"softening, making soft or supple," 1640s, from French émollient (16c.), from Latin emollientem (nominative emolliens), present participle of emollire "to make soft, soften," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + mollire "soften," from mollis "soft," from PIE root *mel- (1) "soft." The noun, "a therapeutic agent or process which softens and relaxes living tissues," is recorded from 1650s.
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