sadden
UK: ˈsædən | US: ˈsædən
vt. to make someone feel sad
vi. (archaic) to become sad
The word "sadden" combines "sad," derived from Old English sæd (originally meaning "full, sated," later shifting to "weary, sorrowful"), with the verb-forming suffix "-en." This suffix, from Old English -nian, was used to create verbs meaning "to cause or become." Thus, "sadden" literally means "to cause sorrow" or "to become sorrowful," reflecting its modern usage. The shift from physical fullness to emotional heaviness in "sad" mirrors similar semantic evolutions in other Germanic languages.
The news of her friend's illness saddened her deeply.
His harsh words saddened the entire room.
The wilted flowers seemed to sadden with each passing day.
She tried not to let the criticism sadden her.
The documentary saddened viewers with its tragic stories.