sharpenv.

/ʃɑːp(ə)n/

Forms: Also Middle English scharpen.

Etymology: < sharp adj. + -en suffix⁵.

a. transitive. To put a sharp edge or point upon, to whet; to furnish (a weapon, implement, etc.) with a cutting edge or fine point.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > sharpen (a thing) [verb (transitive)]

whetc897

grind13..

sharpa1340

slipe1390

pointa1425

strake1483

sharpen1530

whetten1582

preacuate1623

slitea1800

society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > sharpen or put edge on

whetc897

strokec1400

set1461

filour1483

sharpen1530

to wash down1909

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 701/1 I sharpen a knyfe or an edge toole to cutte the better, je aguyse.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Eccles. x. B When an yron is blont, and y^e poynt not sharpened, it must be whett againe.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 60 Let him..sharpen Stakes, or head the Forks.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 68 The biggest End being..sharpen'd on the Top.

1880 G. W. Cable Grandissimes (1898) liv. 352 He sat and sharpened a small pen knife.

1890 S. R. Gardiner Student's Hist. Eng. (1896) I. 1 Flints sharpened by chipping.

b. transferred and figurative.

ΚΠ

1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. ii. 77 Cres. I prethee Diomed visite me no more. Ther. Now shee sharpens, well said Whetstone.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 44. ⁋3 He was only sharpening Darts for his own Destruction.

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iv. xxxi. 90 When the cold moon sharpens her silver horn Under the sea.

1874 J. Parker Paraclete i. xi. 169 When life is sharpened into a crisis, and the whole world seems to have become our assailant.

c. In figurative phrase to sharpen one's pencil: to prepare to work; to revise or improve one's work.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)]

buskc1330

agraith1340

to make readya1382

arraya1387

providec1425

prepare1517

addressa1522

apparel1523

bouna1525

buckle1563

to make frecka1572

fettle?c1600

fix1716

to set into ——1825

to show foot1825

ready1878

to fang a pump, (loosely) a well1883

prep1900

to get (oneself) organized1926

to sharpen one's pencil1957

the world > action or operation > amending > provide a remedy [verb (intransitive)] > look over with a view to amending

to sharpen one's pencil1957

1957 Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Nov. 689/3 This is where the post-historic Ph.D. men will sharpen their pencils.

1965 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 17 June 33/5 He suggested that Stahr and Hovde go home and suggest to local power officials that they ‘sharpen their pencils’ and figure out lower rates.

1969 Listener 2 Jan. 10/2 We..published our findings. Radio telescopes all over the world were trained on the sources, while theoreticians sharpened their pencils.

2. To make sharp or sharper (in various transferred and figurative senses of the adjective). Now frequently const. up.

a. To render more acute (a person's wits, sight, appetite, zeal, etc.); to intensify (hostile feeling).

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > make more acute [verb (transitive)]

sharpa1100

sharpenc1450

subtilize1594

the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)] > increase the intensity of

multiplya1398

sharpenc1450

heighten1523

height1528

strengthen1546

aggravate1549

enhance1559

intend1603

enrich1620

re-enforce1625

wheel1632

reinforce1660

support1691

richen1795

to give a weight to1796

intensify1817

exalt1850

intensate1856

to step up1920

to hot up1937

ramp1981

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > have (good) appetite [verb (transitive)] > sharpen appetite

sharpenc1450

whet1612

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > make vigorous or energetic > make more active or intense

sharpa1100

sharpenc1450

acuate1542

whetten1582

keen1599

vigorate1613

edgea1616

exacuatea1637

acute1637

acuminate1784

the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > show hostility to [verb (transitive)] > intensify hostile feeling

sharpen1835

c1450 Mirk's Festial 173 Þen forto scharpen ȝoure beleue þe better, I telle ȝou þis example.

c1570 W. Wager Longer thou Livest (Brandl) 1417 You shall neuer want a witty page, To sharpen your intelligence.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. i. 25 Epicurean Cookes, Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite.

1779 Mirror No. 59 The military genius is sharpened by exercise.

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 104 My hearing..has been sharpened by my blindness.

1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi III. x. vi. 300 He had never confided, but he had been betrayed—he had never forgiven, but to sharpen enmity.

1841 R. W. Emerson Thoughts on Art in Dial Jan. 374 A study of admirable works of art sharpens our perceptions of the beauty of Nature.

1947 ‘L. Starr’ Corrie xii. 161 Just a little cocktail..to sharpen up our appetites for lunch.

1953 S. Plath Let. 15 May (1978) i. 114 Sharpening up writing again, once it's rusty, is very painful.

b. To give an acid flavour or quality to, to make (a liquid) sour or bitter.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > make sour [verb (transitive)]

sharpa1425

sourc1460

intersour1599

unsweeten1611

blink1616

dissweeten1622

besoura1660

sharpen1675

acidulate1684

whig1756

acidify1837

tack1868

tarten1925

acidize1936

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > make sour [verb (transitive)] > make bitter

sharpa1425

embittera1603

sharpen1675

1675 E. Wilson Spadacrene Dunelmensis 55 Spring-water, sharpened with Spirit of Sulphur.

1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick 86 Drink very largely of Water sharpen'd with Spirit of Vitriol.

1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 203/1 at Soap Potash lyes are, however, principally sharpened or causticized by the soap boiler himself from potash carbonate.

c. To increase the severity of (a law, a punishment, etc.). Cf. German schärfen.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > strictness > make more strict or severe [verb (transitive)]

exasperate1597

sharpen1709

straiten1751

tighten1897

1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xxvi. 278 A Law was past for sharpening Laws against Papists.

1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. viii. 111 It was found necessary to sharpen and strengthen these laws.

1888 Times 6 Sept. 3/2 [Referring to Austria.] He will be lucky if he escapes with six months, ‘sharpened’ by one fast day a month.

1962 Listener 2 Aug. 160/1 French anti-cartel policy was sharpened up by the act of 1958.

†d. To embitter, exacerbate (persons, their temper). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > hatred > hate inwardly or intensely [verb (transitive)] > imbue with hatred or dislike

envenom1533

turn1579

inviper1598

empoison1599

inviperate1672

sharpena1715

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 381 He was much sharpened against Popery.

1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 5 What is there in this world's goods which should sharpen our spirits..?

1792 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 35 Their enemies will be more and more sharpened against them by frequent conflicts.

e. To render more painful, to aggravate (pain or suffering).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > make more severe [verb (transitive)]

gregge1340

aggrievea1425

aggravec1475

aggregec1540

aggravate1576

inflame1607

exasperate1611

to set forward(s)1611

exacerbate1660

sharpen1768

nettle1821

compound1961

the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > exacerbation of suffering > exacerbate suffering [verb (transitive)]

sauce?1518

exasperate1561

aggravate1576

inasperate1592

to set forward1611

exacerbate1660

aggregea1678

sharpen1768

embitter1781

nettle1821

exaggerate1850

1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 196 An injury sharpened by an insult.

1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. xvi. 356 Her grief is..sharpened by the peculiar horror of the Hebrew women at a childless death.

f. To make (the features) sharp or thin.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > types of face > [verb (transitive)]

sharpen1835

1835 W. Irving Tour on Prairies iii. 22 His features were..not unlike those of Napoleon, but sharpened up, with high Indian cheek-bones.

1849 T. Woolner My Lady in Death in My Beautiful Lady xvi Her beauty by degrees Sank, sharpened from disease.

g. reflexive. To improve one's appearance; to smarten oneself up.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautify the person [verb (reflexive)]

preenc1395

prunec1395

prank1546

to set oneself out to the life1604

adonize1611

briska1625

tight1775

to make up1778

tighten1786

smarten1796

pretty1868

tart1938

pansy1946

sharpen1952

primp1959

1952 S. Selvon Brighter Sun ii. 24 Since the Americans came the girls sharpened themselves up and wouldn't be had for less than five Yankee dollars.

†3. To render eager for attack; to goad on. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > urge on or incite

tar ona900

wheta1000

eggc1200

spura1225

aprick1297

ertc1325

sharpa1340

abaita1470

sharpen1483

to set (a person) forth1488

to set forth1553

egg1566

hound1571

shove?1571

edge1575

strain1581

spur1582

spurn1583

hag1587

edge1600

hist1604

switch1648

string1881

haik1892

goose1934

1483 Cath. Angl. 333/2 To scharpyn, jnstigare.

1587 T. Hughes Misfortunes Arthur iii. Chorus 27 The name of peace doth edge our mindes, And sharpeneth on our furie till we fight.

1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 555 Whereby..the spirits of people [were] sharpened for war.

4. Music. To raise the pitch of a note sounded upon a musical instrument. In quot. 1824 absol.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > set pitch [verb (transitive)] > raise pitch

sharp1654

sharpen1824

1824 Mirror 3 105/2 Flattening and sharpening and rosining bows.

1881 Nature 18 Aug. 358/2 If two stopped organ-pipes are brought to unison, and then one of them is sharpened by gradually pushing in its stopper [etc.].

5. = rough v.² 1c, sharp v. 5d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > shoeing of horses > shoe [verb (transitive)] > put in frost-nails

frost1572

frost-nail1594

calk1624

rough1792

sharp1841

roughen1864

sharpen1897

1897 Leeds Mercury Weekly Suppl. 15 May in Eng. Dial. Dict. Hes ta getten t'horse sharpened this morning?

6. Nautical. To brace sharp up.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > set or spread (sails) > raise (sail or yard) > pull taut

sharpen1841

sweat1890

1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. ix. 47 When the tack is well down, sharpen the yard up again by the brace.

†7. intransitive.

a. To become sharp, to taper to a point; to grow thin. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > taper to a point [verb (intransitive)]

sharpa1200

peak1577

sharpen1611

acuminate1641

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Cone, a Cone..or any figure, that is broad, and round below, and sharpens toward the top.

1693 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Fable Acis, Polyphemus & Galatea in Examen Poeticum 87 A Promontory, sharp'ning by degrees, Ends in a Wedge.

1804 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 504 The features of the dead are said to be clung when they sharpen and lose their roundness of contour.

1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) ix, in Writings I. 85 His face..sharpened like the face of a sick man.

b. To light up with a gleam of intelligence.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > have intelligence [verb (intransitive)] > display intelligence

awaken1827

sharpen1828

1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xii. 119 The blunt blue eyes of Mr. Gordon sharpened up in an instant.

c. Of faculties: to grow more acute.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > become more acute [verb (intransitive)]

sharpen1792

1792 tr. J. G. Zimmermann Solitude Considered (ed. 2) iv. 197 The faculties sharpen; the mind becomes more clear, luminous, and extended.

d. To grow more shrill.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > sound shrill [verb (intransitive)] > grow more shrill

sharpen1868

1868 ‘G. Eliot’ Spanish Gypsy iv. 327 A shout of promise, sharpening into cries That seemed to plead despairingly with Death.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online September 2021).

单词	sharpen
释义	sharpenv. /ʃɑːp(ə)n/ Forms: Also Middle English scharpen. Etymology: < sharp adj. + -en suffix⁵. 1. a. transitive. To put a sharp edge or point upon, to whet; to furnish (a weapon, implement, etc.) with a cutting edge or fine point. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > sharpen (a thing) [verb (transitive)] whetc897 grind13.. sharpa1340 slipe1390 pointa1425 strake1483 sharpen1530 whetten1582 preacuate1623 slitea1800 society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > sharpen or put edge on whetc897 strokec1400 set1461 filour1483 sharpen1530 to wash down1909 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 701/1 I sharpen a knyfe or an edge toole to cutte the better, je aguyse. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Eccles. x. B When an yron is blont, and y^e poynt not sharpened, it must be whett againe. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 60 Let him..sharpen Stakes, or head the Forks. View more context for this quotation 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 68 The biggest End being..sharpen'd on the Top. 1880 G. W. Cable Grandissimes (1898) liv. 352 He sat and sharpened a small pen knife. 1890 S. R. Gardiner Student's Hist. Eng. (1896) I. 1 Flints sharpened by chipping. b. transferred and figurative. ΚΠ 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. ii. 77 Cres. I prethee Diomed visite me no more. Ther. Now shee sharpens, well said Whetstone. View more context for this quotation 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 44. ⁋3 He was only sharpening Darts for his own Destruction. 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iv. xxxi. 90 When the cold moon sharpens her silver horn Under the sea. 1874 J. Parker Paraclete i. xi. 169 When life is sharpened into a crisis, and the whole world seems to have become our assailant. c. In figurative phrase to sharpen one's pencil: to prepare to work; to revise or improve one's work. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)] buskc1330 agraith1340 to make readya1382 arraya1387 providec1425 prepare1517 addressa1522 apparel1523 bouna1525 buckle1563 to make frecka1572 fettle?c1600 fix1716 to set into ——1825 to show foot1825 ready1878 to fang a pump, (loosely) a well1883 prep1900 to get (oneself) organized1926 to sharpen one's pencil1957 the world > action or operation > amending > provide a remedy [verb (intransitive)] > look over with a view to amending to sharpen one's pencil1957 1957 Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Nov. 689/3 This is where the post-historic Ph.D. men will sharpen their pencils. 1965 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 17 June 33/5 He suggested that Stahr and Hovde go home and suggest to local power officials that they ‘sharpen their pencils’ and figure out lower rates. 1969 Listener 2 Jan. 10/2 We..published our findings. Radio telescopes all over the world were trained on the sources, while theoreticians sharpened their pencils. 2. To make sharp or sharper (in various transferred and figurative senses of the adjective). Now frequently const. up. a. To render more acute (a person's wits, sight, appetite, zeal, etc.); to intensify (hostile feeling). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > make more acute [verb (transitive)] sharpa1100 sharpenc1450 subtilize1594 the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)] > increase the intensity of multiplya1398 sharpenc1450 heighten1523 height1528 strengthen1546 aggravate1549 enhance1559 intend1603 enrich1620 re-enforce1625 wheel1632 reinforce1660 support1691 richen1795 to give a weight to1796 intensify1817 exalt1850 intensate1856 to step up1920 to hot up1937 ramp1981 the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > have (good) appetite [verb (transitive)] > sharpen appetite sharpenc1450 whet1612 the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > make vigorous or energetic > make more active or intense sharpa1100 sharpenc1450 acuate1542 whetten1582 keen1599 vigorate1613 edgea1616 exacuatea1637 acute1637 acuminate1784 the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > show hostility to [verb (transitive)] > intensify hostile feeling sharpen1835 c1450 Mirk's Festial 173 Þen forto scharpen ȝoure beleue þe better, I telle ȝou þis example. c1570 W. Wager Longer thou Livest (Brandl) 1417 You shall neuer want a witty page, To sharpen your intelligence. a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. i. 25 Epicurean Cookes, Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite. View more context for this quotation 1779 Mirror No. 59 The military genius is sharpened by exercise. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 104 My hearing..has been sharpened by my blindness. 1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi III. x. vi. 300 He had never confided, but he had been betrayed—he had never forgiven, but to sharpen enmity. 1841 R. W. Emerson Thoughts on Art in Dial Jan. 374 A study of admirable works of art sharpens our perceptions of the beauty of Nature. 1947 ‘L. Starr’ Corrie xii. 161 Just a little cocktail..to sharpen up our appetites for lunch. 1953 S. Plath Let. 15 May (1978) i. 114 Sharpening up writing again, once it's rusty, is very painful. b. To give an acid flavour or quality to, to make (a liquid) sour or bitter. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > make sour [verb (transitive)] sharpa1425 sourc1460 intersour1599 unsweeten1611 blink1616 dissweeten1622 besoura1660 sharpen1675 acidulate1684 whig1756 acidify1837 tack1868 tarten1925 acidize1936 the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > make sour [verb (transitive)] > make bitter sharpa1425 embittera1603 sharpen1675 1675 E. Wilson Spadacrene Dunelmensis 55 Spring-water, sharpened with Spirit of Sulphur. 1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick 86 Drink very largely of Water sharpen'd with Spirit of Vitriol. 1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 203/1 at Soap Potash lyes are, however, principally sharpened or causticized by the soap boiler himself from potash carbonate. c. To increase the severity of (a law, a punishment, etc.). Cf. German schärfen. ΘΚΠ society > authority > strictness > make more strict or severe [verb (transitive)] exasperate1597 sharpen1709 straiten1751 tighten1897 1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xxvi. 278 A Law was past for sharpening Laws against Papists. 1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. viii. 111 It was found necessary to sharpen and strengthen these laws. 1888 Times 6 Sept. 3/2 [Referring to Austria.] He will be lucky if he escapes with six months, ‘sharpened’ by one fast day a month. 1962 Listener 2 Aug. 160/1 French anti-cartel policy was sharpened up by the act of 1958. †d. To embitter, exacerbate (persons, their temper). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > hatred > hate inwardly or intensely [verb (transitive)] > imbue with hatred or dislike envenom1533 turn1579 inviper1598 empoison1599 inviperate1672 sharpena1715 a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 381 He was much sharpened against Popery. 1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 5 What is there in this world's goods which should sharpen our spirits..? 1792 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 35 Their enemies will be more and more sharpened against them by frequent conflicts. e. To render more painful, to aggravate (pain or suffering). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > make more severe [verb (transitive)] gregge1340 aggrievea1425 aggravec1475 aggregec1540 aggravate1576 inflame1607 exasperate1611 to set forward(s)1611 exacerbate1660 sharpen1768 nettle1821 compound1961 the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > exacerbation of suffering > exacerbate suffering [verb (transitive)] sauce?1518 exasperate1561 aggravate1576 inasperate1592 to set forward1611 exacerbate1660 aggregea1678 sharpen1768 embitter1781 nettle1821 exaggerate1850 1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 196 An injury sharpened by an insult. 1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. xvi. 356 Her grief is..sharpened by the peculiar horror of the Hebrew women at a childless death. f. To make (the features) sharp or thin. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > types of face > [verb (transitive)] sharpen1835 1835 W. Irving Tour on Prairies iii. 22 His features were..not unlike those of Napoleon, but sharpened up, with high Indian cheek-bones. 1849 T. Woolner My Lady in Death in My Beautiful Lady xvi Her beauty by degrees Sank, sharpened from disease. g. reflexive. To improve one's appearance; to smarten oneself up. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautify the person [verb (reflexive)] preenc1395 prunec1395 prank1546 to set oneself out to the life1604 adonize1611 briska1625 tight1775 to make up1778 tighten1786 smarten1796 pretty1868 tart1938 pansy1946 sharpen1952 primp1959 1952 S. Selvon Brighter Sun ii. 24 Since the Americans came the girls sharpened themselves up and wouldn't be had for less than five Yankee dollars. †3. To render eager for attack; to goad on. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > urge on or incite tar ona900 wheta1000 eggc1200 spura1225 aprick1297 ertc1325 sharpa1340 abaita1470 sharpen1483 to set (a person) forth1488 to set forth1553 egg1566 hound1571 shove?1571 edge1575 strain1581 spur1582 spurn1583 hag1587 edge1600 hist1604 switch1648 string1881 haik1892 goose1934 1483 Cath. Angl. 333/2 To scharpyn, jnstigare. 1587 T. Hughes Misfortunes Arthur iii. Chorus 27 The name of peace doth edge our mindes, And sharpeneth on our furie till we fight. 1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 555 Whereby..the spirits of people [were] sharpened for war. 4. Music. To raise the pitch of a note sounded upon a musical instrument. In quot. 1824 absol. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > set pitch [verb (transitive)] > raise pitch sharp1654 sharpen1824 1824 Mirror 3 105/2 Flattening and sharpening and rosining bows. 1881 Nature 18 Aug. 358/2 If two stopped organ-pipes are brought to unison, and then one of them is sharpened by gradually pushing in its stopper [etc.]. 5. = rough v.² 1c, sharp v. 5d. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > shoeing of horses > shoe [verb (transitive)] > put in frost-nails frost1572 frost-nail1594 calk1624 rough1792 sharp1841 roughen1864 sharpen1897 1897 Leeds Mercury Weekly Suppl. 15 May in Eng. Dial. Dict. Hes ta getten t'horse sharpened this morning? 6. Nautical. To brace sharp up. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > set or spread (sails) > raise (sail or yard) > pull taut sharpen1841 sweat1890 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. ix. 47 When the tack is well down, sharpen the yard up again by the brace. †7. intransitive. a. To become sharp, to taper to a point; to grow thin. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > taper to a point [verb (intransitive)] sharpa1200 peak1577 sharpen1611 acuminate1641 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Cone, a Cone..or any figure, that is broad, and round below, and sharpens toward the top. 1693 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Fable Acis, Polyphemus & Galatea in Examen Poeticum 87 A Promontory, sharp'ning by degrees, Ends in a Wedge. 1804 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 504 The features of the dead are said to be clung when they sharpen and lose their roundness of contour. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) ix, in Writings I. 85 His face..sharpened like the face of a sick man. b. To light up with a gleam of intelligence. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > have intelligence [verb (intransitive)] > display intelligence awaken1827 sharpen1828 1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xii. 119 The blunt blue eyes of Mr. Gordon sharpened up in an instant. c. Of faculties: to grow more acute. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > become more acute [verb (intransitive)] sharpen1792 1792 tr. J. G. Zimmermann Solitude Considered (ed. 2) iv. 197 The faculties sharpen; the mind becomes more clear, luminous, and extended. d. To grow more shrill. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > sound shrill [verb (intransitive)] > grow more shrill sharpen1868 1868 ‘G. Eliot’ Spanish Gypsy iv. 327 A shout of promise, sharpening into cries That seemed to plead despairingly with Death. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online September 2021). < v.c1450
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