ē-mollĭo
ii, ītum, 4, v. a.
I.
to make soft, to soften (perh. not ante-Aug.).
I.
Lit.: humor arcus fundasque et jaculorum amenta emollierat, Liv. 37, 41; Cels. 8, 4: ova macerata, Plin. 10, 60, 80, § 167; 18, 7, 17, § 77; 20, 2, 6, § 11 al.—
B.
Transf.: colores, Plin. 35, 17, 57, § 198.—
II.
Trop.
A.
In a good sense, to make mild or gentle, to mollify: mores, Ov. P. 2, 9, 48: severa praecepta, Aur. Vict. Epit. 48.—
B.
In a bad sense, to enervate, render effeminate: exercitum (Capua), Liv. 27, 3; cf. id. 38, 49; Tac. H. 3, 2; id. Agr. 11: emollit gentes clementia caeli, Luc. 8, 565: auctoritatem principis, Aur. Vict. Epit. 1.