| Soft, | } |
| Softness. |
It is not an honourable fact that ‘soft’ and ‘softness’ should now be terms of slight, almost of contempt, when ethically employed; although indeed it is only a repetition of what we find in χρηστός, εὐήθης, ‘gutig,’ ‘bonhomie,’ and other words not a few.
That they speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft [ἐπιεικεῖς], showing all meekness unto all men.—Titus iii. 2. Tyndale.
The meek or soft shall inherit the earth; even as we say, Be still and have thy will.—Tyndale, Exposition on the Fifth Chapter of Matthew.
Let your softness [τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν] be known unto all men.—Phil. iv. 5. Cranmer.
Sonnet. A ‘sonnet’ now must consist of exactly fourteen lines, neither more nor less; and these with a fixed arrangement, though admitting a certain relaxation, of the rhymes; but ‘sonnet’ used often to be applied to any shorter poem, especially of an amatory kind.
He [Arion] had a wonderful desire to chaunt a sonnet or hymn unto Apollo Pythius.—Holland, Plutarch’s Morals, p. 343.
If ye will tell us a tale, or play a jig, or show us a play and fine sights, or sing sonnets in our ears, there we will be for you.—Rogers, Naaman the Syrian, p. 492.
| Sot, | } |
| Sottish, | |
| Sottishness. |
He only is a ‘sot’ now whose stupor and folly is connected with, and the result of, excessive drink; but any fool would once bear this name.