flattenv.

Brit.

/ˈflatn/, U.S.

/ˈflætn/

Etymology: < flat adj. + -en suffix⁵.

†1. transitive. To lay flat on the ground. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > horizontal position or condition > place in horizontal position [verb (transitive)] > lay flat (on the ground)

layc950

lairc1200

streek1303

to lay lowc1405

prostrate1483

prostern1490

spald1513

prostitute1583

prosternate1593

lodge1597

flatten1712

1712 J. Mortimer Art of Husbandry: Pt. II ii. xii If they [sheep] should lie in it [flax], and beat it down, or flatten it, it will rise again the next rain.

a. Nautical. to flatten in (a sail): to extend it more nearly fore-and-aft of the vessel. Also absol. (Cf. flat v.² 2.)

ΚΠ

1839 F. Marryat Phantom Ship I. x. 216 Hard a-port! flatten in forward!

1856 R. H. Dana Seaman's Friend (new ed.) 51 Flatten in your jibsheets.

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. To flatten in, the action of hauling in the aftmost clue of a sail to give it greater power of turning the vessel..hence flatten in forward..to haul in the jib and foretopmast-staysail-sheets towards the middle of the ship, and haul forward the fore-bowline.

b. intransitive. Aeronautics. to flatten out: to bring an aeroplane into a position parallel with the ground. Also, of the aeroplane: to assume such a position.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [verb (intransitive)] > begin to fly parallel to ground

to flatten out1913

1913 Aeroplane 17 Apr. 453/1 Apparently he tried to flatten out too quickly.

1914 H. Rosher In Royal Naval Air Service (1916) 37 I just managed to flatten out and straighten up a little as I hit the ground sideways.

1917 C. C. Turner Aircraft of To-day vii. 116 When the sea is calm the pilot often finds it anything but easy to see when to flatten out to ‘land’.

1950 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (B.S.I.) i. 8 Approach, to manœuvre an aircraft into position relative to the landing area for flattening-out and alighting.

3. = flat v.² 3a, 3b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > make flat or level [verb (transitive)]

evenlOE

slighta1300

planec1350

complanec1420

levelc1450

dismount1563

planish1580

equalize1596

equal1610

to even out1613

flat1613

flattena1631

complanate1643

platten1688

reconcile1712

range1825

macadamize1826

lay1892

plata1903

the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > make broad in relation to thickness [verb (transitive)]

drive?a1475

flat1651

flatten1728

smooth1859

spread1859

pancake1879

a1631 J. Donne Progresse of Soule xiv, in Poems (1633) 8 As if, for that time, their round bodies flatned were.

1726 A. Monro Anat. Humane Bones ii. 201 The two superior of these four [superior Dorsal vertebræ]..are flatned..by the Action of the Musculi longi colli.

1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Flatten, to make even or level, without prominence or elevation.

1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting I. iv. 98 The superior honours paid to Michael Angelo, whose nose was flattened by the blow.

1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. iii. 33 Its muscular conformation..is throughout calculated for flattening the eye.

1883 J. T. Taylor Hardwich's Man. Photogr. Chem. (ed. 9) 214 A longer exposure in the Camera..invariably flattens the picture, destroying its rotundity and stereoscopic effect.

b.1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Coining The Plates..are pass'd several times thro' the Mill, to flatten 'em.1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature I. 353 Beautiful crystallizations regularly flattened.1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe ii. 78 We were frequently flattened out against the rocks, like beasts of ill repute nailed to a barn.figurative.1884 St. L. Herbert in Fortn. Rev. Feb. 242 Reason..snubbed and flattened out the emotion.1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang To flatten out (American) ‘I flattened him out’ i.e., I had the best of him, of the argument.

a. intransitive for reflexive. To become flat, or more flat; to lose convexity or protuberance; to grow broad at the expense of thickness. Also figurative and with down or out.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > become (more) flat or level [verb (intransitive)]

flatten1734

roll1844

1734 tr. P. L. M. de Maupertuis Diss. Cœlestial Bodies 51 in J. Keill Exam. Burnet's Theory of Earth (ed. 2) The Spheroid that continually flattens.

1734 I. Watts Reliquiæ Juveniles (1789) 85 Our real form grows cold and pale..it flattens, it withers into wrinkles.

1816 M. Keating Trav. (1817) II. 97 On approaching the coast, the surface of the country flattens, and approaches water-level.

1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. I. 149 The horn..flattens and turns inwards.

1883 H. James En Province in Atlantic Monthly Sept. 319/1 As I proceeded it [the country] flattened out a good deal.

1885 L. Wingfield Barbara Philpot III. v. 132 A glittering doll in a shop~window causeth the noses of the bystanders to flatten.

1893 Westm. Gaz. 18 Mar. 8/1 The dip of the reef ‘flattens’.

1924 History Oct. 209 The general average flattened down to a moderate thirteen shillings.

1971 Guardian 11 June 19/3 Furniture and silver prices have flattened out lately.

b. Of the wind or a storm: To decrease in force. Cf. flat v.² 2c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > become calm (of weather or the elements)

calm1399

falla1400

lown?a1600

to fall calm1601

serenify1612

subside1680

lin1693

flat1748

flatten1748

lull1808

to go down1873

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. viii. 79 The storm at length flattening to a calm.

1805 Naval Chron. 13 239 The Wind flattening..she missed stays.

a. transitive. To make ‘flat’, vapid, or insipid. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [verb (transitive)] > render flat or stale

pall1601

flatten1656

1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 3 As if all use of Rhetorical ornaments..did adulterate, corrupt, and flatten the sincere milke of the word.

1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica ii. v. 221 The Celestial Bodies..do ferment or flatten the Air.

1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Flatten, to make vapid.

b. intransitive to become insipid.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > insipidity > become insipid [verb (intransitive)]

pall1440

appal1528

flatten1692

1692 R. L'Estrange Fables clxi. 132 Satisfactions that..flatten in the very tasting.

1702 Eng. Theophrastus 254 Without some tincture of Urbanity, good Humour flattens for want of Refreshment and Relief.

6. transitive. To make dull, deprive of attraction, interest, or impressiveness; also to flatten down.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored with [verb (transitive)] > make wearisome or tedious

leadc1430

stale1601

wooden1641

cool1665

flatten1693

mustify1828

woodenize1877

leaden1899

dehydrate1957

1693 W. Freke Sel. Ess. xxxiv. 210 When you gallop over a good Author, you..flatten him, and lose half his Life and Substance.

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 204. ⁋5 It flattens the Narration, to say his Excellency in a Case which is common to all Men.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 162 The odiousness of the crime grew at last to be so much flatten'd by the frequent executions.

1820 C. Lamb Let. 25 May (1935) II. 277 That I did not write..was simply that he was to come so soon, & that flattens Letters.

1889 Spectator 14 Dec. 840 When the pilgrims..break out into verse, they..flatten down what had been far more effectively and imaginatively said in prose.

†7.

a. To deprive of energy or ‘fire’; to depress. Also with away. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)]

drearya1300

discomfortc1325

batec1380

to cast downa1382

to throw downa1382

dullc1386

faintc1386

discomfita1425

discourage1436

sinkc1440

mischeera1450

discheerc1454

amatea1500

bedowa1522

damp1548

quail1548

dash1550

exanimate1552

afflict1561

dank1565

disanimate1565

sadden1565

languish1566

deject1581

dumpc1585

unheart1593

mope1596

chill1597

sour1600

disgallant1601

disheart1603

dishearten1606

fainten1620

depress1624

sullen1628

tristitiate1628

disliven1631

dampen1633

weigh1640

out-spirit1643

dispirit1647

flat1649

funeralize1654

hearta1658

disencourage1659

attrist1680

flatten1683

dismalizec1735

blue-devil1812

out-heart1845

downweigh1851

to get down1861

frigidize1868

languor1891

downcast1914

neg1987

1683 R. Grove Perswasive to Communion 22 Our Passions..may be Charmed, or Raised, or Flattened.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 47. ⁋3 He was sunk and flattened to the lowest Degree.

1772 J. Adams Diary 23 Dec. (1961) II. 72 I find they are both cooled—both flattened away.

1796 E. Burke Corr. IV. 362 So far from endeavouring to excite this spirit, nothing has been omitted to flatten and lower it.

b. To cause (a market) to become depressed.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > influence the market > depress the market

fall1564

bear1840

hammer1865

bang1884

flatten1891

pound1895

1891 Daily News 12 Nov. 2/1 These two influences sufficed to flatten all the markets.

8. To lower (a musical note) in pitch; also absol.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > set pitch [verb (transitive)] > lower pitch

depress1530

flatten1824

1824 Mirror 3 105/2 Flattening and sharpening and rosining bows.

1825 J. F. Danneley Encycl. Music To flatten, to lower a note one or two half tones.

1872 H. C. Banister Text-bk. Mus. 55 That same note sharpened or flattened.

9. To paint (a surface) so that it shall have no gloss; to deprive (paint) of its lustre. Also absol.

ΚΠ

1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. To flatten, is to give a newly painted wall such a coat of colour as takes off its glossy appearance.

1874 W. Crookes Pract. Handbk. Dyeing vii. 517 The colouring matter may also be flattened or deprived of its lustre.

10. Tanning: see quot. 1875.

ΚΠ

1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) III. 95 In some cases, as in the calf~skin, it is skived and then shaved, or, as it is called, flattened at right angles to the skiving.

Draft additions 1993

b. [Compare sense 3.] colloquial. To knock (a person) down with a heavy blow, to ‘floor’; in extended use, to defeat utterly, best, rout. Also with out.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > soundly

threshc1384

to knock the socks offa1529

thump1597

thrash1609

thwacka1616

capot1649

to beat to snuff1819

to knock into a cocked hat1830

to —— (the) hell out of1833

sledgehammer1834

rout1835

whop1836

skin1838

whip-saw1842

to knock (the) spots off1850

to make mincemeat of1853

to mop (up) the floor with1875

to beat pointless1877

to lick into fits1879

to take apart1880

to knock out1883

wax1884

contund1885

to give (a person) fits1885

to wipe the floor with1887

flatten1892

to knock (someone) for six1902

slaughter1903

slather1910

to hit for six1937

hammer1948

whomp1952

bulldozer1954

zilch1957

shred1966

tank1973

slam-dunk1975

beast1977

1892 Truth (Sydney) 1 May 2/3 [He] would assuredly ‘flatten out’, smother, or stab any ‘kinchin’ who either complained or told stories.

1893 J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley Slang III. 17/1 Flatten out,..(American), to get the better of (in argument or fight).

1920 H. C. Witwer Kid Scanlan v. 209 The chair I throwed at him was wasted, because Scanlan stepped aside and flattened the assassin with a left hook to the jaw.

1930 Daily Express 6 Oct. 11/5 Stanley was knocked out in the third round, but before he was finally flattened he put up as game a display as any I have ever seen.

1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. iv. 29 Mean, tough fellow, too; I seen him flatten a policeman in the yards at Cheyenne, one punch.

1977 Washington Post 28 Feb. c22/2 Committee members from the Washington area voted for it, but the trucking lobby flattened them as usual.

1986 Times 12 May 32/8 The transparent but ignored penalty when Nicol flattened Sharp.

Draft additions 1993

c. To overwhelm (someone) with a crushing argument or remark; to put down, humiliate. Cf. to flatten out at sense 2b. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)]

anitherOE

fellOE

lowc1175

to lay lowc1225

to set adownc1275

snuba1340

meekc1350

depose1377

aneantizea1382

to bring lowa1387

declinea1400

meekenc1400

to pull downc1425

avalec1430

to-gradea1440

to put downc1440

humble1484

alow1494

deject?1521

depress1526

plucka1529

to cut (rarely to cast down) the comb of?1533

to bring down1535

to bring basec1540

adbass1548

diminish1560

afflict1561

to take down1562

to throw down1567

debase1569

embase1571

diminute1575

to put (also thrust) a person's nose out of jointc1576

exinanite1577

to take (a person) a peg lower1589

to take (a person) down a peg (or two)1589

disbasea1592

to take (a person) down a buttonhole (or two)1592

comb-cut1593

unpuff1598

atterr1605

dismount1608

annihilate1610

crest-fall1611

demit1611

pulla1616

avilea1617

to put a scorn on, upon1633

mortify1639

dimit1658

to put a person's pipe out1720

to let down1747

to set down1753

humiliate1757

to draw (a person's) eyeteeth1789

start1821

squabash1822

to wipe a person's eye1823

to crop the feathers of1827

embarrass1839

to knock (also take, etc.) (a person) off his or her perch1864

to sit upon ——1864

squelch1864

to cut out of all feather1865

to sit on ——1868

to turn down1870

to score off1882

to do (a person) in the eye1891

puncture1908

to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908

to cut down to size1927

flatten1932

to slap (a person) down1938

punk1963

1932 A. J. Worrall Eng. Idioms 50 He was inclined to be cheeky, but I soon flattened him.

1961 J. Mitchell Imaginary Toys xv. 177 ‘Charles,’ said Giles, ‘what do you really care about?’ That flattened me, rather. ‘I don't know,’ I said.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	flatten
释义	† flattenadj. Etymology: ? variant of flotten adj. Obsolete. rare. 1. Of milk: ? Skimmed (in quot. 1594 apparently stale, sour; perhaps associated with flat adj.). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > insipidity > [adjective] wallowc897 smatchless?c1225 unsavoury?c1225 fresha1398 savourlessa1398 wearish1398 wershed1398 fond?c1430 unsavoured1435 palled1440 mildc1450 walsh1513 wallowish1548 dead1552 waterish1566 cold1585 flatten1594 seasonless1595 wersha1599 blown1600 flash1601 fatuous1608 tasteless1611 flat1617 insipid1620 ingustable1623 flashy1625 flatted1626 saltless1633 gustless1636 remiss1655 rheumatical1655 untasteable1656 vapid1656 exolete1657 distasted1662 vappous1673 insulse1676 toothless1679 mawkisha1697 intastable1701 waugh1703 impoignant1733 flavourless1736 instimulating1740 deadish1742 mawky1755 brineless1791 wishy-washy1791 keestless1802 shilpit1814 wish-washy1814 sapidless1821 silent1826 slushy1839 bland1878 spendsavour1879 wish-wash1896 dolled1917 spiceless1980 the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] sourc1000 sourish1398 acetosea1400 eagerc1405 acetous?a1425 crabbed1565 sharpish1589 unsugared1592 flatten1594 Amerine1601 acetosous1605 acerba1616 acid1626 acidulous1674 salso-acid1697 acescent1707 sugarless1785 acidulent1800 blink1883 brut1891 the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > unsavouriness > [adjective] > rank or rancid restya1325 rest1381 rammishc1395 areast1440 reested?c1475 reesed1486 musty1492 rusty?1521 turned1548 reasty1573 froughy1579 flatten1594 reasy1598 rammy1607 rancid1627 loud1641 ranked1648 virous1661 ranciduous1688 raftya1722 virose1756 reeky1854 loud-flavoured1866 1594 H. Plat Jewell House 13 Soke..in broken beere, or flatten milk. 2. figurative. = fleeten adj. 2. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > white or whiteness > [adjective] > bluish-white flattena1625 fleetena1640 blue-white1819 a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. iii. v, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrr3/2 What a flatten face he has now..How like an asse he lookes? This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2021). flattenv. Brit. /ˈflatn/, U.S. /ˈflætn/ Etymology: < flat adj. + -en suffix⁵. †1. transitive. To lay flat on the ground. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > horizontal position or condition > place in horizontal position [verb (transitive)] > lay flat (on the ground) layc950 lairc1200 streek1303 to lay lowc1405 prostrate1483 prostern1490 spald1513 prostitute1583 prosternate1593 lodge1597 flatten1712 1712 J. Mortimer Art of Husbandry: Pt. II ii. xii If they [sheep] should lie in it [flax], and beat it down, or flatten it, it will rise again the next rain. 2. a. Nautical. to flatten in (a sail): to extend it more nearly fore-and-aft of the vessel. Also absol. (Cf. flat v.² 2.) ΚΠ 1839 F. Marryat Phantom Ship I. x. 216 Hard a-port! flatten in forward! 1856 R. H. Dana Seaman's Friend (new ed.) 51 Flatten in your jibsheets. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. To flatten in, the action of hauling in the aftmost clue of a sail to give it greater power of turning the vessel..hence flatten in forward..to haul in the jib and foretopmast-staysail-sheets towards the middle of the ship, and haul forward the fore-bowline. b. intransitive. Aeronautics. to flatten out: to bring an aeroplane into a position parallel with the ground. Also, of the aeroplane: to assume such a position. ΘΚΠ society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [verb (intransitive)] > begin to fly parallel to ground to flatten out1913 1913 Aeroplane 17 Apr. 453/1 Apparently he tried to flatten out too quickly. 1914 H. Rosher In Royal Naval Air Service (1916) 37 I just managed to flatten out and straighten up a little as I hit the ground sideways. 1917 C. C. Turner Aircraft of To-day vii. 116 When the sea is calm the pilot often finds it anything but easy to see when to flatten out to ‘land’. 1950 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (B.S.I.) i. 8 Approach, to manœuvre an aircraft into position relative to the landing area for flattening-out and alighting. 3. = flat v.² 3a, 3b. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > make flat or level [verb (transitive)] evenlOE slighta1300 planec1350 complanec1420 levelc1450 dismount1563 planish1580 equalize1596 equal1610 to even out1613 flat1613 flattena1631 complanate1643 platten1688 reconcile1712 range1825 macadamize1826 lay1892 plata1903 the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > make broad in relation to thickness [verb (transitive)] drive?a1475 flat1651 flatten1728 smooth1859 spread1859 pancake1879 a. a1631 J. Donne Progresse of Soule xiv, in Poems (1633) 8 As if, for that time, their round bodies flatned were. 1726 A. Monro Anat. Humane Bones ii. 201 The two superior of these four [superior Dorsal vertebræ]..are flatned..by the Action of the Musculi longi colli. 1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Flatten, to make even or level, without prominence or elevation. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting I. iv. 98 The superior honours paid to Michael Angelo, whose nose was flattened by the blow. 1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. iii. 33 Its muscular conformation..is throughout calculated for flattening the eye. 1883 J. T. Taylor Hardwich's Man. Photogr. Chem. (ed. 9) 214 A longer exposure in the Camera..invariably flattens the picture, destroying its rotundity and stereoscopic effect. b.1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Coining The Plates..are pass'd several times thro' the Mill, to flatten 'em.1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature I. 353 Beautiful crystallizations regularly flattened.1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe ii. 78 We were frequently flattened out against the rocks, like beasts of ill repute nailed to a barn.figurative.1884 St. L. Herbert in Fortn. Rev. Feb. 242 Reason..snubbed and flattened out the emotion.1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang To flatten out (American) ‘I flattened him out’ i.e., I had the best of him, of the argument. 4. a. intransitive for reflexive. To become flat, or more flat; to lose convexity or protuberance; to grow broad at the expense of thickness. Also figurative and with down or out. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > become (more) flat or level [verb (intransitive)] flatten1734 roll1844 1734 tr. P. L. M. de Maupertuis Diss. Cœlestial Bodies 51 in J. Keill Exam. Burnet's Theory of Earth (ed. 2) The Spheroid that continually flattens. 1734 I. Watts Reliquiæ Juveniles (1789) 85 Our real form grows cold and pale..it flattens, it withers into wrinkles. 1816 M. Keating Trav. (1817) II. 97 On approaching the coast, the surface of the country flattens, and approaches water-level. 1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. I. 149 The horn..flattens and turns inwards. 1883 H. James En Province in Atlantic Monthly Sept. 319/1 As I proceeded it [the country] flattened out a good deal. 1885 L. Wingfield Barbara Philpot III. v. 132 A glittering doll in a shop~window causeth the noses of the bystanders to flatten. 1893 Westm. Gaz. 18 Mar. 8/1 The dip of the reef ‘flattens’. 1924 History Oct. 209 The general average flattened down to a moderate thirteen shillings. 1971 Guardian 11 June 19/3 Furniture and silver prices have flattened out lately. b. Of the wind or a storm: To decrease in force. Cf. flat v.² 2c. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > become calm (of weather or the elements) calm1399 falla1400 lown?a1600 to fall calm1601 serenify1612 subside1680 lin1693 flat1748 flatten1748 lull1808 to go down1873 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. viii. 79 The storm at length flattening to a calm. 1805 Naval Chron. 13 239 The Wind flattening..she missed stays. 5. a. transitive. To make ‘flat’, vapid, or insipid. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [verb (transitive)] > render flat or stale pall1601 flatten1656 1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 3 As if all use of Rhetorical ornaments..did adulterate, corrupt, and flatten the sincere milke of the word. 1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica ii. v. 221 The Celestial Bodies..do ferment or flatten the Air. 1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Flatten, to make vapid. b. intransitive to become insipid. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > insipidity > become insipid [verb (intransitive)] pall1440 appal1528 flatten1692 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables clxi. 132 Satisfactions that..flatten in the very tasting. 1702 Eng. Theophrastus 254 Without some tincture of Urbanity, good Humour flattens for want of Refreshment and Relief. 6. transitive. To make dull, deprive of attraction, interest, or impressiveness; also to flatten down. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored with [verb (transitive)] > make wearisome or tedious leadc1430 stale1601 wooden1641 cool1665 flatten1693 mustify1828 woodenize1877 leaden1899 dehydrate1957 1693 W. Freke Sel. Ess. xxxiv. 210 When you gallop over a good Author, you..flatten him, and lose half his Life and Substance. 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 204. ⁋5 It flattens the Narration, to say his Excellency in a Case which is common to all Men. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 162 The odiousness of the crime grew at last to be so much flatten'd by the frequent executions. 1820 C. Lamb Let. 25 May (1935) II. 277 That I did not write..was simply that he was to come so soon, & that flattens Letters. 1889 Spectator 14 Dec. 840 When the pilgrims..break out into verse, they..flatten down what had been far more effectively and imaginatively said in prose. †7. a. To deprive of energy or ‘fire’; to depress. Also with away. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)] drearya1300 discomfortc1325 batec1380 to cast downa1382 to throw downa1382 dullc1386 faintc1386 discomfita1425 discourage1436 sinkc1440 mischeera1450 discheerc1454 amatea1500 bedowa1522 damp1548 quail1548 dash1550 exanimate1552 afflict1561 dank1565 disanimate1565 sadden1565 languish1566 deject1581 dumpc1585 unheart1593 mope1596 chill1597 sour1600 disgallant1601 disheart1603 dishearten1606 fainten1620 depress1624 sullen1628 tristitiate1628 disliven1631 dampen1633 weigh1640 out-spirit1643 dispirit1647 flat1649 funeralize1654 hearta1658 disencourage1659 attrist1680 flatten1683 dismalizec1735 blue-devil1812 out-heart1845 downweigh1851 to get down1861 frigidize1868 languor1891 downcast1914 neg1987 1683 R. Grove Perswasive to Communion 22 Our Passions..may be Charmed, or Raised, or Flattened. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 47. ⁋3 He was sunk and flattened to the lowest Degree. 1772 J. Adams Diary 23 Dec. (1961) II. 72 I find they are both cooled—both flattened away. 1796 E. Burke Corr. IV. 362 So far from endeavouring to excite this spirit, nothing has been omitted to flatten and lower it. b. To cause (a market) to become depressed. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > influence the market > depress the market fall1564 bear1840 hammer1865 bang1884 flatten1891 pound1895 1891 Daily News 12 Nov. 2/1 These two influences sufficed to flatten all the markets. 8. To lower (a musical note) in pitch; also absol. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > set pitch [verb (transitive)] > lower pitch depress1530 flatten1824 1824 Mirror 3 105/2 Flattening and sharpening and rosining bows. 1825 J. F. Danneley Encycl. Music To flatten, to lower a note one or two half tones. 1872 H. C. Banister Text-bk. Mus. 55 That same note sharpened or flattened. 9. To paint (a surface) so that it shall have no gloss; to deprive (paint) of its lustre. Also absol. ΚΠ 1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. To flatten, is to give a newly painted wall such a coat of colour as takes off its glossy appearance. 1874 W. Crookes Pract. Handbk. Dyeing vii. 517 The colouring matter may also be flattened or deprived of its lustre. 10. Tanning: see quot. 1875. ΚΠ 1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) III. 95 In some cases, as in the calf~skin, it is skived and then shaved, or, as it is called, flattened at right angles to the skiving. Draft additions 1993 b. [Compare sense 3.] colloquial. To knock (a person) down with a heavy blow, to ‘floor’; in extended use, to defeat utterly, best, rout. Also with out. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > soundly threshc1384 to knock the socks offa1529 thump1597 thrash1609 thwacka1616 capot1649 to beat to snuff1819 to knock into a cocked hat1830 to —— (the) hell out of1833 sledgehammer1834 rout1835 whop1836 skin1838 whip-saw1842 to knock (the) spots off1850 to make mincemeat of1853 to mop (up) the floor with1875 to beat pointless1877 to lick into fits1879 to take apart1880 to knock out1883 wax1884 contund1885 to give (a person) fits1885 to wipe the floor with1887 flatten1892 to knock (someone) for six1902 slaughter1903 slather1910 to hit for six1937 hammer1948 whomp1952 bulldozer1954 zilch1957 shred1966 tank1973 slam-dunk1975 beast1977 1892 Truth (Sydney) 1 May 2/3 [He] would assuredly ‘flatten out’, smother, or stab any ‘kinchin’ who either complained or told stories. 1893 J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley Slang III. 17/1 Flatten out,..(American), to get the better of (in argument or fight). 1920 H. C. Witwer Kid Scanlan v. 209 The chair I throwed at him was wasted, because Scanlan stepped aside and flattened the assassin with a left hook to the jaw. 1930 Daily Express 6 Oct. 11/5 Stanley was knocked out in the third round, but before he was finally flattened he put up as game a display as any I have ever seen. 1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. iv. 29 Mean, tough fellow, too; I seen him flatten a policeman in the yards at Cheyenne, one punch. 1977 Washington Post 28 Feb. c22/2 Committee members from the Washington area voted for it, but the trucking lobby flattened them as usual. 1986 Times 12 May 32/8 The transparent but ignored penalty when Nicol flattened Sharp. Draft additions 1993 c. To overwhelm (someone) with a crushing argument or remark; to put down, humiliate. Cf. to flatten out at sense 2b. colloquial. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)] anitherOE fellOE lowc1175 to lay lowc1225 to set adownc1275 snuba1340 meekc1350 depose1377 aneantizea1382 to bring lowa1387 declinea1400 meekenc1400 to pull downc1425 avalec1430 to-gradea1440 to put downc1440 humble1484 alow1494 deject?1521 depress1526 plucka1529 to cut (rarely to cast down) the comb of?1533 to bring down1535 to bring basec1540 adbass1548 diminish1560 afflict1561 to take down1562 to throw down1567 debase1569 embase1571 diminute1575 to put (also thrust) a person's nose out of jointc1576 exinanite1577 to take (a person) a peg lower1589 to take (a person) down a peg (or two)1589 disbasea1592 to take (a person) down a buttonhole (or two)1592 comb-cut1593 unpuff1598 atterr1605 dismount1608 annihilate1610 crest-fall1611 demit1611 pulla1616 avilea1617 to put a scorn on, upon1633 mortify1639 dimit1658 to put a person's pipe out1720 to let down1747 to set down1753 humiliate1757 to draw (a person's) eyeteeth1789 start1821 squabash1822 to wipe a person's eye1823 to crop the feathers of1827 embarrass1839 to knock (also take, etc.) (a person) off his or her perch1864 to sit upon ——1864 squelch1864 to cut out of all feather1865 to sit on ——1868 to turn down1870 to score off1882 to do (a person) in the eye1891 puncture1908 to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908 to cut down to size1927 flatten1932 to slap (a person) down1938 punk1963 1932 A. J. Worrall Eng. Idioms 50 He was inclined to be cheeky, but I soon flattened him. 1961 J. Mitchell Imaginary Toys xv. 177 ‘Charles,’ said Giles, ‘what do you really care about?’ That flattened me, rather. ‘I don't know,’ I said. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.1594v.a1631
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† flattenadj.

flattenv.

Draft additions 1993

Draft additions 1993