soft-soled
Meaning
having a sole made of a soft or flexible material
Structure
Usage
she wore soft-soled shoes to avoid making noise on the hardwood floors.
many martial arts practitioners train in soft-soled slippers for better floor feel.
the baby's first shoes were soft-soled to allow for natural foot development.
Etymology
the compound adjective 'soft-soled' is a transparent modern english formation. its first element, 'soft', has germanic roots, evolving from old english to describe a lack of hardness or a gentle quality. the second element, 'soled', derives from the latin 'solea', referring to the bottom of a shoe or foot, which entered english via old french. the combination logically describes footwear designed for quiet movement or comfort, directly linking the physical property of the material ('soft') to the specific part of the shoe it modifies ('sole').
Analysis
- soft: from old english 'sōfte' (agreeable, calm, gentle), of germanic origin; related to dutch 'zacht' and german 'sanft'. functions as an adjective describing a quality. - soled: from the noun 'sole' (the bottom of a foot or shoe) + the past participle suffix '-ed', forming an adjective meaning 'having a sole of a specified kind'. 'sole' originates from latin 'solea' (sandal, bottom of a shoe).