H. L. Mencken
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Emollient derives from the present participle of the Latin verb emollire, which, unsurprisingly, means "to soften or soothe." Emollire, in turn, derives ultimately from mollis, meaning "soft." Another descendant of mollis is mollify (essentially meaning "to make softer in temper or disposition"). A more distant relative is mild, which can be traced back to the same ancient source as mollis. The adjective emollient first appeared in print in English in the early 1600s; the noun arrived on the scene soon after.
Examples of emollient in a Sentence
Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2024
Without subjecting you to a chemistry lesson, humectant ingredients must be teamed with emollient ingredients to make an effective lip balm.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 2 Feb. 2024
Gina Vaynshteyn, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
Use a fragrance-free moisturizer, emollient, or skin-barrier repair cream throughout the day, especially after washing or bathing.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near emollient
Cite this Entry
“Emollient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emollient. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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emollient
1 of 2 adjective
emollient
2 of 2 noun
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