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Webster 1913 Edition

Sharpen

Sharp′en

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sarpened
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sharpening
.]
[See
Sharp
,
Adj.
]
To make sharp.
Specifically:
(a)
To give a keen edge or fine point to; to make sharper;
as, to
sharpen
an ax, or the teeth of a saw
.
(b)
To render more quick or acute in perception; to make more ready or ingenious.
The air . . .
sharpened
his visual ray
To objects distant far.
Milton.
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and
sharpens
our skill.
Burke.
(c)
To make more eager;
as, to
sharpen
men’s desires
.
Epicurean cooks
Sharpen
with cloyless sauce his appetite.
Shakespeare
(d)
To make more pungent and intense;
as, to
sharpen
a pain or disease
.
(e)
To make biting, sarcastic, or severe.
“Sharpen each word.”
E. Smith.
(f)
To render more shrill or piercing.
Inclosures not only preserve sound, but increase and
sharpen
it.
Bacon.
(g)
To make more tart or acid; to make sour;
as, the rays of the sun
sharpen
vinegar
.
(h)
(Mus.)
To raise, as a sound, by means of a sharp; to apply a sharp to.

Sharp′en

,
Verb.
I.
To grow or become sharp.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sharpen

SHARPEN

,
Verb.
T.
1. To make sharp; to give a keen edge or a fine point to a thing; to edge; to point; as, to sharpen a knife, an ax or the teeth of a saw; to sharpen a sword.
All of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his share and his coulter, and his ax and his mattock. 1 Sam. 8.
2. To make more eager or active; as, to sharpen the edge of industry.
3. To make more pungent and painful. The abuse of wealth and greatness may hereafter sharpen the sting of conscience.
4. To make more quick, acute or ingenious. The wit or the intellect is sharpened by study.
5. To render perception more quick or acute.
Th' air sharpen'd his visual ray
To objects distant far. Milton.
6. To render more keen; to make more eager for food or for any gratification; as, to sharpen the appetite; to sharpen a desire.
7. To make biting, sarcastic or severe. Sharpen each word.
8. To render less flat, or more shrill or piercing.
Inclosures not only preserve sound, but increase and sharpen it. Bacon.
9. To make more tart or acid; to make sour; as, the rays of the sun sharpen vinegar.
10. To make more distressing; as, to sharpen grief or other evis.
11. In music, to raise a sound by means of a sharp.

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