mollesco
ĕre
I.
v. inch. n. [molleo], to become soft, to soften (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; cf. liquesco).
I.
Lit.: rura colit nemo: mollescunt colla juvencis, Cat. 64, 38: ebur, Ov. M. 10, 283: tactu, Plin. 12, 17, 37, § 76.—
II.
Trop.
1.
To become soft, mild, or gentle: tum genus humanum primum mollescere coepit, Lucr. 5, 1014: pectora, Ov. P. 1, 6, 8.—
2.
To become effeminate, unmanly: mollescat in undis, Ov. M. 4, 386: ne forte mollescat cor vestrum, Vulg. Jer. 51, 46.