Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - mollify

 verb  (-fied; -fying)  Etymology: Middle English mollifien, from Middle French mollifier, from Late Latin mollificare, from Latin mollis soft; akin to Greek amaldynein to soften, Sanskrit m?du soft, and probably to Greek malakos soft, amblys dull, Old English meltan to melt  Date: 15th century  transitive verb  1. to soothe in temper or disposition ; appease mollified the staff with a raise  2. to reduce the rigidity of ; soften  3. to reduce in intensity ; assuage, temper  intransitive verb archaic soften, relent  Synonyms: see pacify  • mollification noun