An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/sanft

by Friedrich Kluge

sanft, adj., ‘soft, gentle,’ from MidHG. sęnfte, adj., sanfte, adv., OHG. sęmfti, adj., samfto, adv., ‘softly’; corresponding to the equiv. OSax. sâfti, adj., safto, adv. (comp. sacht), AS. sêfte, adj., sôfte, adv., ‘softly’ (E. soft); wanting in East Teut. Do the cognates belong to Goth. samjan, ‘to please’? (comp. Ranft, from the root ram). Deriv. Sänfte.