coarsen
UK: ˈkɔːsn | US: ˈkɔːrsn
vt. to make or become rough or harsh in texture or quality
vi. to become less refined or elegant
coarsen = coarse<rough> + en<verb suffix>
- coarse: From Middle English cors (rough, ordinary), likely derived from Old French cors (ordinary, common), itself from Latin corsus (vulgar or unrefined).
- en: A verb-forming suffix of Germanic origin, used to convert adjectives or nouns into verbs (e.g., sharpen, strengthen).
Etymology Origin:
The word coarsen emerged in the 18th century by combining coarse (already in use since the 14th century to describe rough or unrefined qualities) with the suffix -en, which transforms adjectives into verbs. This follows a pattern seen in other English verbs like soften or darken, where the suffix implies a process of becoming or making something possess the root adjective’s trait. The logic is straightforward: coarse + en = "to make coarse."
The fabric will coarsen if washed with harsh detergents.
Years of manual labor had coarsened his hands.
The artist deliberately coarsened the brushstrokes for a rustic effect.
Pollution can coarsen the air quality over time.
Her speech coarsened after years in the rough neighborhood.