Emollient

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɪˈmÉ’l.ɪ.É™nt/
• US IPA: /ɪˈmÉ‘l.jÉ™nt/

Origin

From French émollient, from Latin emolliēns, present active participle of ēmolliō ("make soft"), from e- + molliō, from mollis ("soft").

Full definition of emollient

Noun

1. Something which softens or lubricates the skin.
• 2008, Carol A. Miller, Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults (Fifth edition), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 505,The effectiveness of an emollient is based on its ability to prevent water evaporation, ...
2. Anything soothing the mind, or that makes something more acceptable.
• 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas,Attentive conversation is an emollient I lack sorely aboard Prophetess & the doctor is a veritable polymath.

Adjective

1. Moisturizing.
2. Soothing or mollifying.