Given the following passage  "The general effect of the water content upon the wood substance is to render it softer and more pliable. A similar effect of common observation is in the softening action of water on rawhide, paper, or cloth. Within certain limits, the greater the water content, the greater its softening effect.",  answer the following question. Note that the answer is present within the text.  Question: What can large amounts of water do to wood?
The answer to this question is:
softening