unsoftened

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not made physically softer, smoother, or less hard

   The unsoftened leather was too stiff to fold without cracking.

2. 2
   adj

   not made gentler, less severe, or more sympathetic

   His judgment remained unsoftened by her explanation of the circumstances.

Formed from un- ('not') + softened. Soften is soft + the verb-forming suffix -en, and soft descends from Old English softe. The literal failure to reduce hardness readily extended to severity, prejudice, emotion, and judgment.

Topics