Late Middle English; earliest use found in Lanfranc's Science of Cirurgie. As adjective from post-classical Latin mollificativus from mollificat-, past participial stem of mollificare + -ivus; compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French mollificatif, mollificative, and also slightly later mollifying, mollitive. As noun from post-classical Latin mollificativum, use as noun of neuter of mollificativus; compare slightly later mollifying, mollitive.