stiffen

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English stifnen, equivalent to stiff +‎ -en.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈstɪfən/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪfən

Verb[edit]

stiffen (third-person singular simple present stiffens, present participle stiffening, simple past and past participle stiffened)

  1. (transitive) To make stiff.
  2. (intransitive) To become stiff.
    • 2003, Yoko Ogawa, The Housekeeper and the Professor:
      Bewildered by the unexpected greeting, my son stiffened, but managed a polite answer.

Synonyms[edit]

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Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Anagrams[edit]