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. (figuratively) weakness
3. (figuratively, usually in the plural) luxury
4. (figuratively, 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

5. (figuratively, 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

Further reading

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