indurate

verb

in·​du·​rate ˈin-də-ˌrāt 

-dyə-

indurated; indurating

transitive verb

1

: to make unfeeling, stubborn, or obdurate

Both indurated by early domestic training and an inherited tenacity of heterodox resistance …

—James Joyce

2

: to make hardy : inure

a harsh climate indurating them to the cold

3

: to make hard

great heat indurates clay

4

: to establish firmly : confirm

an indurated habit

intransitive verb

1

: to grow hard : harden

2

: to become established

Did you know?

Indurate is a hard word—in more than one way. Not only is it fairly uncommon in modern usage, but it also can be traced back to Latin durare, meaning "to harden." Durare can mean "to endure" as well, and appropriately indurate is a word that has lasted many years—it has been a part of the English language since the 14th century. Durare is also the root of other durable English words, including during, endure, duration, durance, and even durable itself. In addition, indurate can be a verb meaning "to make or grow hard," "to make unfeeling, stubborn, or obdurate," and "to establish firmly."

Synonyms of indurate

• freeze
• harden
• stiffen

Examples of indurate in a Sentence

clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun

such a brutal upbringing could only callous his soul and indurate his heart to the suffering of others

Word History

Etymology

Latin induratus, past participle of indurare, from in- + durare to harden, from durus hard — more at during

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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