Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MELT, v.t. [Sax. meltan; Gr. μελδω; D. smelten; G. schmelzen; Sw. smälta; Dan. smelter; whence Eng. smelt, smalt. We have in these words decisive evidence that s, in smelten, &c. is a prefix. Melt, in English is regular, forming melted for its past tense and passive participle. The old participle molten, is used only as an adjective. This verb belongs to a numerous class of words in Ml, denoting soft or softness. See Class Ml, No. 10, 18, 19.]

1. To dissolve; to make liquid; to liquefy; to reduce from a solid to a liquid or flowing state by heat; as, to melt wax, tallow or lead; to melt ice or snow.
2. To dissolve; to reduce to first principles. Burnet
3. To soften to love or tenderness. For pity melts the mind to love. Dryden.
4. To waste away; to dissipate. In general riot melted down thy youth. Shak.
5. To dishearten. Josh. xiv.