“Mollify” came into English from the Latin word “mollis,” meaning “soft,” and it was originally used in the 15th century in the sense of “make soft or supple.” For example, someone might have mollified a hide to make it supple enough for leather clothing. Today, however, “mollify” is almost never used to describe softening a physical material. Instead, “mollify” is used in the sense of softening or reducing the severity of something, or appeasing the anger of someone. For example, in the story of “Beauty and the Beast,” Beauty is resentful at being kept in captivity, but the Beast’s kind nature eventually mollifies her and they fall in love.