mollifying 是动词 mollify 的现在分词形式,意为"安抚的、平息的、使缓和的"。指通过言语或行为减轻某人的愤怒、焦虑或不满情绪。
/ˈmɒl.ɪ.faɪ.ɪŋ/(英式) /ˈmɑː.lɪ.faɪ.ɪŋ/(美式)
源自拉丁语 mollificare,由 mollis(柔软的)和 facere(使、做)组合而成,字面意思是"使变柔软"。经由古法语 mollifier 传入英语,最初既指物理上的软化,也指情感上的安抚。随着时间推移,现代英语中主要保留了"平息情绪、安抚怒气"这一比喻义。
She spoke in a mollifying tone to calm the upset child.
她用安抚的语气让那个不高兴的孩子平静下来。
His mollifying gestures did little to ease the tension in the room, as the damage from his earlier remarks had already been done.
他安抚性的举动并没有缓解房间里的紧张气氛,因为他早前的言论已经造成了伤害。