transitive. To make ready, prepare, or dress (some raw material) for use, or for further manipulation; e.g. to soften (hides) by beating, to…

transitive. To make ready by a process likened to digestion, to ‘concoct’.

transitive. gen. To perform an action or process of a particular type on (a material, commodity, etc.), esp. in order to prepare it for sale or…

transitive. To prepare, provide, or obtain (something), esp. in a secret, stealthy, or underhand manner. Now rare.

transitive. To do work on (a substance or material), esp. so that it is ready for use; to make (something) up into a finished product.