English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Variant of further, equivalent to forth +‎ -en.

Verb edit

furthen (third-person singular simple present furthens, present participle furthening, simple past and past participle furthened)

  1. (rare, nonstandard) Synonym of further
    • 1820 original 1692, Anthony Wood, Athenae Oxonienses:
      [] that as the poorest bodies are by God's goodnes in the fulnes of a plentifull country competently sustained for this, so their soules by this provision may bee furthened for a better life; []
    • 1827, Joseph Barlow Felt, The Annals of Salem: From Its First Settlement, page 10:
      [] as Christian brethren, be united by a heavenly and unfeigned love, bending all our hearts and forces in furthening a work beyond our strength, with reverence and fear, fastening our eyes always on Him, that is only able to direct and prosper all our ways.
    • 1987, Man & Development, volume 9, page 144:
      [] his sociological insights, his non-party status as well as intellectual detachment in performing a singular theoretical task for furthening the cause of the Indian revolution make him a unique figure among Indian Marxists.
    • 1988, Mary A. Hepburn, Mary O'Briant, Inge Whittle, Constitution 200: A Bicentennial Collection of Essays, page 81:
      [] that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, strained, molested, or furthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; []
    • 1996, Unesco Africa: Quarterly Journal of the Dakar Regional Office, page 25:
      A girl who succeeds in gaining entry to the 2nd level has a better chance of furthening her education and this in turn gives access to improved job opportunities, higher income levels, and authority and power.
    • 2013, Gabi Waibel, Judith Ehlert, Hart N. Feuer, Southeast Asia and the Civil Society Gaze:
      Moreover, the highly mobile nature of contemporary Cambodian society, driven by partial urbanization, labour migration, and the overall pragmatic/loose family structure, often keeps families separated – furthening the fragmentation of social institutions.