Dictionary of troublesome word. Bill Bryson. 2013.
music has charms to soothe the savage breast — Meaning Origin William Congreve. 1670 1729. The Mourning Bride. Act i. Sc. 1. Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak … Meaning and origin of phrases
Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast — is the correct quotation from the Congreve play The Mourning Bride. Not the savage breast or a savage beast … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
Soothe — (s[=oo][th]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Soothed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Soothing}.] [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so[eth]ien to verify, AS. ges[=o][eth]ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See {Sooth}, a.] 1. To assent to as true. [Obs.]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Soothed — Soothe Soothe (s[=oo][th]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Soothed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Soothing}.] [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so[eth]ien to verify, AS. ges[=o][eth]ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See {Sooth}, a.] 1. To assent to as… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Soothing — Soothe Soothe (s[=oo][th]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Soothed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Soothing}.] [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so[eth]ien to verify, AS. ges[=o][eth]ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See {Sooth}, a.] 1. To assent to as… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sooth´er — soothe «sooth», verb, soothed, sooth|ing. –v.t. 1. to quiet; calm; comfort: »The mother soothed the crying child. Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast (William Congreve) … Useful english dictionary
William Congreve — For other uses, see William Congreve (disambiguation). William Congreve William Congreve in 1709 by Godfrey Kneller. Born 24 January 1670(1670 01 24) … Wikipedia
