from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mellow \Mel"low\, a. [Compar. {Mellower}; superl. {Mellowest}.]
[OE. melwe; cf. AS. mearu soft, D. murw, Prov. G. mollig
soft, D. malsch, and E. meal flour.]
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1. Soft or tender by reason of ripeness; having a tender
pulp; as, a mellow apple.
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2. Hence:
(a) Easily worked or penetrated; not hard or rigid; as, a
mellow soil. "Mellow glebe." --Drayton
(b) Not coarse, rough, or harsh; subdued; soft; rich;
delicate; -- said of sound, color, flavor, style, etc.
"The mellow horn." --Wordsworth. "The mellow-tasted
Burgundy." --Thomson.
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The tender flush whose mellow stain imbues
Heaven with all freaks of light. --Percival.
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3. Well matured; softened by years; genial; jovial.
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May health return to mellow age. --Wordsworth.
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As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed
a hound. --W. Irving.
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4. Warmed by liquor; slightly intoxicated. --Addison.
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