- Sweetening
- Sweeten Sweet"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sweetened}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Sweetening}.] [See {Sweet}, a.]
1. To make sweet to the taste; as, to sweeten tea.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make pleasing or grateful to the mind or feelings; as, to sweeten life; to sweeten friendship. [1913 Webster]
3. To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper. [1913 Webster]
4. To make less painful or laborious; to relieve; as, to sweeten the cares of life. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
And sweeten every secret tear. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
5. To soften to the eye; to make delicate. [1913 Webster]
Correggio has made his memory immortal by the strength he has given to his figures, and by sweetening his lights and shadows, and melting them into each other. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
6. To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter; as, to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected; to sweeten the air. [1913 Webster]
7. To make warm and fertile; -- opposed to sour; as, to dry and sweeten soils. [1913 Webster]
8. To restore to purity; to free from taint; as, to sweeten water, butter, or meat. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.