Main Entry:

sweet·en

Pronunciation:

\ˈswē-t^ən\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

sweet·ened; sweet·en·ing \ˈswēt-niŋ, ˈswē-t^ən-iŋ\

Date:

circa 1552

transitive verb1: to make sweet2: to soften the mood or attitude of3: to make less painful or trying4: to free from a harmful or undesirable quality or substance ; especially : to remove sulfur compounds from <sweeten natural gas>5: to make more valuable or attractive <sweeten the deal>: as a: to increase (a pot not won on the previous deal) by anteing prior to another deal b: to place additional securities as collateral for (a loan)intransitive verb: to become sweet

— sweet·en·er \ˈswēt-nər, ˈswē-t^ən-ər\ noun