- Today's Word
Mollify
[MOL-uh-fye]
Definition
- (verb) To calm someone down when they’re angry or upset, to soothe their emotions, or to make someone less hostile. It can also mean to reduce the severity or intensity of something.
Example
After the waiter spilled soup on the angry customer, the restaurant manager tried to mollify him by offering a free meal and dessert.
Fun Fact
The word “mollify” comes from the Latin word “mollificare,” which literally means “to make soft.” It’s derived from “mollis” (meaning soft) and “facere” (meaning to make). The word first appeared in English in the 15th century, originally referring to the physical softening of something, like leather or wax. Over time, its meaning evolved to focus more on emotional softening rather than physical. This evolution mirrors a common pattern in language where words describing physical actions come to be used for emotional or psychological states. Interestingly, the same Latin root “mollis” gives us other words like “mollusc” (soft-bodied sea creatures) and “emollient” (something that softens or soothes skin), showing how one root word can branch into different but related meanings.
(adjective) Found or appearing everywhere simultaneously; seeming to be present in all places at once.
Smartphones have become so ubiquitous that it’s now more unusual to spot someone without one than with one.
Ubiquitous derives from the Latin ubique, meaning “everywhere,” combined with the suffix -ous denoting a quality or characteristic. The Latin root breaks down further into ubi (“where”) and que (“and, also”) — essentially meaning “and wherever else.” The word entered English in the 19th century, initially used in theological discussions about God’s omnipresence before expanding into general use.