sharpen

verbattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈʃɑːpən//
United States//ˈʃɑɹpən//

To make sharp.

verb

1
figurativeTo make sharp.
to sharpen a pencil or a knife or a musical note
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill.
2
To become sharp.
The organizers said they had found themselves "more involved in the web of social convulsions and violence that is tormenting our country. The present economic crisis, the grave political instability and the rapidly sharpening violence have finally overtaken […] our wishes.

Etymology

From Middle English scharpenen, scharpnen, equivalent to sharp + -en.

Forms

past tense: sharpened
past participle: sharpened
present participle: sharpening
third person singular: sharpens

sharp · Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut…Sharp · A surname.Sharpe · A surname.

sharpen · To make sharp.

sharper · A swindler; a cheat; a professional gambler who makes his…Sharper · A surname.sharply · In a sharp manner, in various senses. So as to terminate in a…

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.