"the day's heat faded into balminess"
"the climate had the softness of the south of France"

"orders have recently picked up after a period of extreme softness"
"he attributes the disappointing results to softness in the economy"

"and in softness almost beyond hearing"

"the softness of the morning sky"

"his fingers have learned gentleness"
"suddenly her gigantic power melted into softness for the baby"
"even in the pulpit there are moments when mildness of manner is not enough"

"the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy"
"Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness"
"he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him"

"softness is not something permitted of good leaders"