soft-footedadj.
/ˌsɒf(t)ˈfʊtᵻd/, U.S. /ˈsɔf(t)ˌfudəd/, /ˈsɑf(t)ˌfudəd/ Having a soft or light tread.
a. poetic. Used figuratively of the passage of time or the movement of incorporeal or ethereal things.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > gentle
plaina1425
small1542
soft-footed1603
supple1648
favonian1656
zephyrian1661
slack1670
zephyrousa1750
zephyry1791
zephyrean1793
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > [adjective] > silent > of footsteps
feather-footed1565
woollen1597
cat-footed1598
soft-footed1603
woolly1631
still-footed1894
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [adjective] > of footsteps
soft-footed1603
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [adjective] > having specific manner of walking > light-footed
lightOE
light-footeda1425
lightfoot1440
feather-footed1565
tripping1567
nimble-footed1592
soft-foot1598
light-heeled1600
soft-footed1603
soft-footed1607
nimble-heeled1656
quick-foot1658
feather-heeleda1674
tickle-heeled1740
nimble-stepping1832
tripsome1846
twinkle-toed1960
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > [adjective]
creepinga1400
slyc1440
prowling1546
stealing1574
sneaking1590
cat-footed1598
soft-footed1603
surrepent1608
cat-likea1616
stealthya1616
grassant1659
sliving1661
creep-mouse1766
secret1768
slinking1841
pussy-footed1893
undercreeping1893
pussyfooting1926
slinky1951
1603 H. Chettle Englands Mourning Garment (new ed.) sig. E3 Ye soft-footed Howers, Make ready Cypresse Bowers.
1613 G. Chapman Reuenge Bussy D'Ambois v. sig. I4 The blacke soft-footed houre is now on wing.
1656 A. Cowley Pindarique Odes 4 in Poems Soft-footed Winds..Dance through the perfum'd Aire.
1775 C. Lofft Praises of Poetry 30 O'er the brown wood soft-footed shadows creep.
1874 Scribner's Monthly Nov. 44/1 Into the midst of her joy would steal a shy anxious thought, a thought which was the more terrible because it came so stealthily, so soft-footed and unbidden.
1947 W. H. Auden Age of Anxiety ii. 47 In the soft-footed Hours of darkness.
1993 D. Weissbort Nietzsche's Attaché Case 101 Soft-footed, the rain enters the earth.
b. Used literally of people and animals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [adjective] > having specific manner of walking > light-footed
lightOE
light-footeda1425
lightfoot1440
feather-footed1565
tripping1567
nimble-footed1592
soft-foot1598
light-heeled1600
soft-footed1603
soft-footed1607
nimble-heeled1656
quick-foot1658
feather-heeleda1674
tickle-heeled1740
nimble-stepping1832
tripsome1846
twinkle-toed1960
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice iv. 9 The paring of a foales hoofes so young, and bringing him to such a tendernesse of treading, makes him euer after whilst he is a horse, soft footed.
1736 R. Ainsworth Thes. Linguæ Latinæ I Soft footed, mollipes.
1841 H. Mozley Lost Brooch I. xxxv. 249 The considerate sympathetic nurse..and the soft-footed handmaid..had left the room.
1914 Boys' Life July 23/2 It is difficult to follow the tracks of soft-footed animals like foxes and cats.
2008 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 14 Aug. 44/2 The Cardinal's household servants are like this: murmuring, comfortable, soft-footed, and kept permanently apologetic.
Derivatives
soft-ˈfootedly adv. with a soft or light tread.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > [adverb]
creepingly1548
unsuspectedly1645
soft-footedly1834
on (formerly upon) the prowl1836
inconspicuously1893
1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pilgrims of Rhine xii. 139 He [sc. the fox] walked very soft-footedly.
1922 F. P. Grove Over Prairie Trails vi. 192 Such a condition of the atmosphere never holds out in a prolonged snowfall, may it come down ever so soft-footedly.
1980 Ploughshares 6 77 His smiling composure..gives Jeremiah a chance..to slither soft-footedly across the room.
2001 R. Thomas Potter's House (2004) 52 I loved..the way Derek soft-footedly took care of the building.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1603