ripen
Meanings
verb
- to grow ripe; to become mature (said of grain, fruit, flowers etc.)
- To approach or come to perfection.
- To cause (something) to mature; to make ripe
- To mature; to fit or prepare; to bring to perfection
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
From Middle English *ripenen, extended form of ripen, from Old English rīpian. In the modern form, equivalent to ripe + -en (inchoative and factitive suffix). As in several other verbs, the alteration seems to have occurred during the time when the infinitive and plural ending -en was in the process of being lost (and was thus open to reinterpretation). The earliest attestation is deverbal Middle English ripening (“causing ripeness, ripening”).
Related words
Derived words
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