Adjacent Words

Emollient definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EMOL'LIENT, a. Softening; making supple; relaxing the solids.
Barley is emollient.
EMOL'LIENT, n. A medicine which softens and relaxes, or sheaths the solids; that which softens or removes the asperities of the humors.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: having a softening or soothing effect especially to the skin [syn: demulcent, emollient, salving, softening] n
1: toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin [syn: cream, ointment, emollient]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Latin emollient-, emolliens, present participle of emollire to soften, from e- + mollis soft — more at mollify Date: 1626 1. making soft or supple; also soothing especially to the skin or mucous membrane <an emollient hand lotion> 2. making less intense or harsh ; mollifying <soothe us in our agonies with emollient words — H. L. Mencken> II. noun Date: 1656 something that softens or soothes

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. --adj. that softens or soothes the skin. --n. an emollient agent. Derivatives: emollience n. Etymology: L emollire (as E-, mollis soft)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Emollient E*mol"lient (?; 106), a. [L. emolliens, -entis, p. pr. of emollire to soften; e out + mollire to soften, mollis soft: cf. F. ['e]mollient. See Mollify.] Softening; making supple; acting as an emollient. ``Emollient applications.'' --Arbuthnot.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Emollient E*mol"lient (?; 105), n. (Med.) An external something or soothing application to allay irritation, soreness, etc.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(emollients) 1. An emollient is a liquid or cream which you put on your skin to make it softer or to reduce pain. (FORMAL) N-MASS 2. An emollient cream or other substance makes your skin softer or reduces pain. (FORMAL) ADJ: ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Softening, relaxing, soothing.

Moby Thesaurus

alleviating, alleviative, analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne, assuasive, balm, balmy, balsam, balsamic, benumbing, brilliantine, cathartic, cerate, chrism, cleansing, cold cream, collyrium, cream, deadening, demulcent, dulling, easing, embrocation, eye-lotion, eyewash, eyewater, face cream, hand lotion, inunction, inunctum, lanolin, lenitive, liniment, loosening, lotion, lubricant, lubricating, lubricational, lubricative, mitigating, mitigative, mollifying, nard, numbing, oil, ointment, pain-killing, palliative, pomade, pomatum, purgative, relaxing, relieving, remedial, salve, softening, soothing, soothing syrup, spikenard, subduing, unction, unguent, unguentum, vulnerary