Stiffen
/ˈstɪfən/ verb
verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To make stiff. transitive
"Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law."
- 2 make stiff or stiffer wordnet
- 3 To become stiff. intransitive
"Bewildered by the unexpected greeting, my son stiffened, but managed a polite answer."
- 4 become stiff or stiffer wordnet
- 5 severely restrict in scope or extent wordnet
Example
More examples"She felt him stiffen in surprise when he heard the news."
Etymology
From Middle English stifnen, equivalent to stiff + -en.