mollezza

Italian

Etymology

Inherited from Latin mollitia. Doublet of mollizia, which was borrowed. By surface analysis, molle +‎ -ezza.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /molˈlet.t͡sa/
• Rhymes: -ettsa
• Hyphenation: mol‧léz‧za

Noun

mollezza f (plural mollezze)

1. (literally, rare) softness, flabbiness
2. Figurative meanings:
   1. weakness
   2. (chiefly in the plural) luxury
   3. (rare) softness, gentleness, sweetness

      eravamo da qualche tempo silenziosi, come vinti dalla mollezza e dalla dolcezza dell’aria estiva

      we'd been silent for some time, as if conquered by the gentleness and the sweetness of the summer wind

   4. (rare) suppleness

      vedeva di lontano […] quella persona gentil che si moveva con languida mollezza sotto il grande ombrellino rosso

      he saw from afar that gentle person moving with languid suppleness under the large red umbrella

Related terms

• molla
• molle
• rammollire

References

• mollezza in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana