softening

"The family is becoming more organized now that they have a new calendar. "

"My friend told me there was something in the box, but I didn't know what it was yet. "

"Do you need a gift for that special someone?"

"As soon as she heard that her father had died, she went into a rage and beat the wall with her fists until her knuckles bled."

"to allow a servant his liberty;  to allow a free passage;  to allow one day for rest"

"Soften the butter before beating in the sugar."

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."

"The neighboring country's invasion of the smaller nation disrupted the delicate peace in the region. "

"The process of baking a cake involves several steps, from mixing the ingredients to putting it in the oven. "

"The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue."

"The secret passage undermined the foundation of the old house, making it unstable. "

"The army used artillery to destroy the enemy's fortifications. "