Some musical numbers were moved and there was a general softening of the village characters to make them more likable and more individualized.

Separately yesterday, UAL and Continental posted lower fourth-quarter earnings, reflecting a general softening in airline revenues compared with last year.

Part of the problem seems to be that there was a general softening in the luxury market over the summer.

But with the general softening of attitudes about the currency transition, eulogies seem less necessary.

Though he'd said nothing to them, the other prisoners had got wind of the fact that in some mysterious way he was responsible for the general softening of prison conditions.

A Honda spokesman cited the general softening of the market.

Yields on money market accounts, certificates of deposit and money market mutual funds showed a general softening for the second consecutive week ended yesterday.

The effect of all this is a general softening of manners.

Indeed, he asserts that "the effect of their presence has been a general softening of military service."

Valentino Couture paid tribute to "The Bicycle Thief" with simple and clean soft suits that represented the general softening of men's dressing.