lithen
English
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editFrom Middle English *lithnien, equivalent to lithe + -en.
Verb
editlithen (third-person singular simple present lithens, present participle lithening, simple past and past participle lithened)
- (archaic) To make lithe, soften; to ease, mitigate
- 1874, Emma Robinson, Cæsar Borgia:
- “Nay, daughter, when thou art as old as Notte it will be time enough to reckon years!” returned the dark-skinned sybil, lithening the stiff folds of a viper in a blue oil, which cast out a noisome perfume as she stirred it.
- 1914, Mary Johnston, Sir Mortimer, page 278:
- " […] I only know that for well-nigh all the stricken he hath lithened the fever, and that he hath recalled to life many an one whom the chirurgeon had given over to the chaplain."
Etymology 2
editFrom lithe (“a mixture of oatmeal and water”) + -en.
Verb
editlithen (third-person singular simple present lithens, present participle lithening, simple past and past participle lithened)
Categories:
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms suffixed with -en (inchoative)
- English lemmas
- English verbs
- English terms with archaic senses
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- English dialectal terms