demulceo
From LSJ
ὤδινεν ὄρος, Ζεὺς δ' ἐφοβεῖτο, τὸ δ' ἔτεκεν μῦν → the mountain was in labor — even Zeus was afraid — but gave birth to a mouse
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
dē-mulcĕo: lsi, mulctum, 2,
I v. a., to stroke down, to stroke caressingly (rare).
I Prop.: caput tibi, Ter. Heaut. 4, 5, 14: dorsum, Liv. 9, 16 fin.: aures, Lact. de Ira, 7, 9: crura, Gell. 5, 14, 12.—
II Trop., to soften, allure: aures omnium mentesque demulsit, Gell. 16, 19, 6; cf.: ita motus et demulctus et captus est, ut, etc., id. 3, 13 fin.: eum, id. 18, 2, 1.
