softly

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
soft/sɒft/

▶adjective

• 1 easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch.

  ■ having a smooth texture; not rough or coarse.

• 2 (of light or shadow) pleasingly subtle; without sharp definition.

  ■ quiet and gentle.

• 3 sympathetic or lenient, especially excessively so.

  ■ denoting a faction within a political party that is willing to compromise: the soft left.

  ■ informal (of a job or way of life) requiring little effort.

• 4 (of a drink) not alcoholic.

  ■ (of a drug) not likely to cause addiction.

• 5 (of water) free from mineral salts.

• 6 (also soft-core) (of pornography) suggestive but not explicit.

• 7 (of a market, currency, or commodity) falling or likely to fall in value.

• 8 informal foolish.

  ■ (soft on) infatuated with.

• 9 (of radiation) having little penetrating power.

• 10 (of a consonant) pronounced as a fricative (as c in ice).

• 11 dialect (of weather) rainy, moist, or thawing.

▶adverb

• 1 softly.

• 2 informal foolishly: don't talk soft.

– phrases
have a soft spot for be fond of.
soft touch (also easy touch) informal a person who is easily persuaded or imposed upon.

– derivatives
softish adjective,
softly adverb,
softness noun.

– origin OE sōfte ‘agreeable, calm, gentle’, of W. Gmc origin.