to calm (somebody) by showing attention or concern
to relieve or alleviate (e.g. pain)
to bring comfort or reassurance to (somebody)
to bring peace or ease
soother noun
soothing adj
soothingly adv
Old English sōthian to prove the truth, from sōth true. Sense 1 arose in the 17th cent. from the earlier meanings ‘to support or encourage somebody in an assertion’ and ‘to flatter’