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Mollify vs Lighten - What's the difference?

mollify | lighten | Related terms |

Mollify is a related term of lighten.


As verbs the difference between mollify and lighten

is that mollify is to ease a burden, particularly worry; make less painful; to comfort while lighten is to alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

mollify

English

Alternative forms

* mollifie

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To ease a burden, particularly worry; make less painful; to comfort.
  • * 1893 , (Henry George), The Condition of Labor: An Open Letter to Pope Leo XIII, p. 104:
  • *:All that charity can do where injustice exists is here and there to somewhat mollify the effects of injustice.
  • * 1997 , A Government Reinvented: A Study of Alberta's Deficit Elimination Program, p. 408:
  • *:The draft Charter School Handbook issued in November 1994 sought to mollify concerns over teacher quality, if not ATA membership, by requiring teacher certification.
  • To appease (anger), pacify, gain the good will of.
  • * 1867 , , chapter 2:
  • Although this invitation was accompanied with a curtsey that might have softened the heart of a church-warden, it by no means mollified the beadle.
  • * 1916 , , chapter 5:
  • The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he was addressed.
  • To soften; to make tender
  • * 1662 , , Book III, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 113:
  • "Nor is it any more difficulty for him to mollifie what is hard, then it is to harden what is so soft and fluid as the Aire."
  • * 1724 , (William Burkitt), Expository Notes, with Practical Observations on the New Testament, p. 102:
  • *:By thy kindness thou wilt melt and mollify his spirit towards thee, as hardest metals are melted by coals of fire …
  • Synonyms

    * (to ease a burden) assuage, calm, comfort, mitigate, soothe * (to appease) appease, conciliate, pacify, placate, propitiate, satisfy * See also

    lighten

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
  • To make light or lighter in weight.
  • To make less serious or more cheerful.
  • * Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5
  • They looked unto him, were lightened .
  • To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
  • to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
  • * Dryden
  • A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
  • To become light or lighter in weight.
  • To become less serious or more cheerful.
  • To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
  • To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
  • * Shakespeare
  • This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
  • To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
  • * Shakespeare
  • His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
  • To descend; to light.
  • * Book of Common Prayer
  • O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
  • To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.

    Conjugation

    (en-conj-simple)

    Derived terms

    * lighten up