I.to make soft, to soften (perh. not ante-Aug.).
I. Lit.: “humor arcus fundasque et jaculorum amenta emollierat,” Liv. 37, 41; Cels. 8, 4: “ova macerata,” Plin. 10, 60, 80, § 167; 18, 7, 17, § 77; 20, 2, 6, § 11 al.—
B. Transf.: “colores,” to soften, make more delicate, Plin. 35, 17, 57, § 198.—
II. Trop.
A. In a good sense, to make mild or gentle, to mollify: “mores,” Ov. P. 2, 9, 48: “severa praecepta,” Aur. Vict. Epit. 48.—
B. In a bad sense, to enervate, render effeminate: “exercitum (Capua),” Liv. 27, 3; cf. id. 38, 49; Tac. H. 3, 2; id. Agr. 11: “emollit gentes clementia caeli,” Luc. 8, 565: “auctoritatem principis,” to weaken, Aur. Vict. Epit. 1.