2026

Ripen

//ˈɹaɪpən//

Definitions

1
to grow ripe; to become mature (said of grain, fruit, flowers etc.
Grapes ripen in the sun.
2
To approach or come to perfection.
The acquaintance soon ripened into a warm attachment.
3
To cause (something) to mature; to make ripe
The warm sun ripened the corn.

Word Origin

From Middle English *ripenen, extended form of ripen, from Old English rīpian. In the modern form, equivalent to ripe + -en (inchoative and factitive suffix). As in several other verbs, the alteration...

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