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stiffen |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Stiffen \Stiff"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stiffened}; p. pr & vb n. {Stiffening}.] [See {Stiff}.] 1. To make stiff; to make less pliant or flexible; as to stiffen cloth with starch. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. --Shak. 2. To inspissate; to make more thick or viscous; as to stiffen paste. 3. To make torpid; to benumb. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Stiffen \Stiff"en\, v. i. To become stiff or stiffer, in any sense of the adjective. Like bristles rose my stiffening hair. --Dryden. The tender soil then stiffening by degrees. --Dryden. Some souls we see Grow hard and stiffen with adversity. --Dryden. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: stiffen v 1: become stiff or stiffer; "He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room" [ant: {loosen}] 2: make stiff or stiffer; "Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine" [ant: {loosen}] 3: restrict; "Tighten the rules"; "stiffen the regulations" [syn: {tighten}, {tighten up}, {constrain}]
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