MELT (2)

Melt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Melted (obs.) p. p. Molten (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Melting.] [[AS. meltan; akin to Gr. μέλδειν, E. malt, and prob. to E. smelt, v. √108. Cf. Smelt, v., Malt, Milt the spleen.]] 1. 1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as by heat; to liquefy; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to melt ice or snow.
2. 2. Hence: To soften, as by a warming or kindly influence; to relax; to render gentle or susceptible to mild influences; sometimes, in a bad sense, to take away the firmness of; to weaken.
Thou would'st have . . . melted down thy youth. Shak. For pity melts the mind to love. Dryden. Syn. — To liquefy; fuse; thaw; mollify; soften.