emollient
/ɪˈmɑl.jənt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.09 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Something which softens or lubricates the skin; moisturizer.
adj
adj
Soothing or mollifying.
Example Sentences
- "2008, Carol A. Miller, Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults (Fifth edition), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 505, [T]he effectiveness of an emollient is based on its ability to prevent water evaporation, […]"
- ""Several of the visitors then partook for a short time, with evident Parisian gusto, of the pleasures of the dance," yes--we did, and the lovely girls with whom we polked (ladies being one of the Club emollients) were eloquent in praise of our exquisite tournures which were shown to such advantage beneath our tight uniforms."
- "Hail, Poetry, thou heav’n-born maid! / Thou gildest e’en the pirate’s trade. / Hail, flowing fount of sentiment! / All hail, divine emollient!"
- "Attentive conversation is an emollient I lack sorely aboard Prophetess & the doctor is a veritable polymath."
- "Twenty leeches were ordered to be applied round the nose every two days; frequent emollient fomentations; the local vapour bath; general bathing; stimulating pedilavia; a strict regimen; vegetables, milk, white meats; demulcent or acidulated drinks; avoidance of exposure to the sun or to cold air; flannel waistcoat and trousers. This treatment, being strictly observed for two months, caused all the inflammatory symptoms to disappear, […]"
- "[I]nſtead of Honey, Rob of Elder, Conſerve of Roſes, or Syrup of Violets; Glyſters, Pedilavia of emollient Decoctions with Nitre; or Elder, Vinegar, or Focus's of the ſame, applied with Sponges behind the Ears, to the Armpits, Groins, Hams, &c. or with Barley-water and a little Roſe-vinegar."
Etymology
From French émollient, from Latin emolliēns, present active participle of ēmolliō (“make soft”), from ex- + molliō, from mollis (“soft”). By surface analysis, e- + Latin moll- + -i- + -ent.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪˈmɑl.jənt/
- British English: /ɪˈmɒl.ɪ.ənt/