Definition of the word soothe away

The expression "soothe away" is a figurative phrase used to describe the action of easing away or alleviating something unpleasant or uncomfortable. The origins of this expression can be traced back to the Old English word "soðian", which meant "to make well" or "to heal". The word "sooth" itself originally had two distinct meanings: one related to healing or making well, and another related to quieting or calming. By the 16th century, the two meanings had become merged in the word "soothe", which began to be used both as a verb meaning "to calm" and as a noun meaning "quiet". The use of "soothe away" as a phrase is a more modern construction, arising from a combination of the original meanings of the word "sooth" and a sense that the word "soothe" itself conveys a sense of easing or healing. The addition of the word "away" to the phrase emphasizes the idea that the soothing effect is complete and total, as the unpleasant thing is vanished entirely. So, in summary, the expression "soothe away" combines the historical meanings of the word "sooth" to create a modern phrase that conveys the idea of easing away something unpleasant or uncomfortable, while emphasizing the completeness and total effect of the soothing action.