harden

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To become hard.
2. (ergative, transitive) To make something hard or harder.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To strengthen.
4. (transitive) To modify (a website or other system) to make it resistant to malicious attacks.
5. (ambitransitive) To become or make (a person or thing) resistant or less sensitive.
6. (informal, intransitive) To get an erection.
7. (ambitransitive) To become or make (a consonant) more fortis; to (cause to) undergo fortition.
8. To unpalatalize or velarize.

Noun

Alternative form of hurden (“coarse linen”).

Synonyms

become hard

temper

solidify

toughen

indurate

petrify

stiffen

strengthen

season

set

congeal

inure

coarsen

tighten

turn to stone

steel

firm

concrete

cake

🍰

fortify

consolidate

callous

become rough

make hard

condense

firm up

thicken

roughen

sclerosis

petrified

clot

freeze

dehydrate

gel

chap

cure

ossify

dry

fossilize

hard

preserve

curdle

crystallize

case-harden

create

contract

become numb

congealed

calcify

forge

Translations

durcir

härten

endurecer

indurire

stalen

verhärten

endurecer

harden

abhärten

endurcir

endurecerse

temperen

hart werden

endurir

indurirsi

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɑɹdn̩/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: hardenen

Cognate with Danish: hærdne

Cognate with Swedish: hårdna

Cognate with Norwegian: herdne

Cognate with Icelandic: harðna

In summary

From Middle English hardenen, equivalent to hard + -en. Cognate with Danish hærdne (“to harden; cure”), Swedish hårdna (“to harden”), Norwegian herdne (“to harden”), Icelandic harðna (“to harden”).