ripenv.
/ˈrʌɪp(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈraɪpən/ I. Senses relating to fruit, grain, and other produce.
1.
a. transitive. To make (fruit, seed, etc.) ripe; to bring to maturity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by age or cycles > ripen [verb (transitive)] > ripen
ripea1398
ripenc1450
concoct1555
maturate1628
to bring on1629
mature1701
c1450 [implied in: J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 2 For Augustus is þat month in heruest whech is þe hattest month and moost ripening of frutes. (at ripening adj. 1)].
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Maturo The yere quickly ripeneth grapes in sunnie hilles.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. iv. 50 The Sunne..rypeneth things, he withereth things & so forth.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iii. i. 8 The pleached bowere Where hony-suckles ripened by the sunne, Forbid the sunne to enter. View more context for this quotation
1687 A. Lovell tr. C. de Bergerac Comical Hist. i. 13 As if it were likely that the Sun..had only been kindled to ripen their Medlars, and plumpen [Fr. pommer] their Cabbage.
1759 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. (ed. 7) at Abutilon With proper care they will ripen their seeds in autumn.
1785 T. Jefferson Let. 28 Oct. in Papers (1953) VIII. 683 They [sc. the French] have nothing which deserves the name of a peach; there being not sun enough to ripen the plumbpeach.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 667 In a frame of this kind, Knight ripened grapes.
1878 H. B. Stowe Poganuc People xx. 179 For the frost ripened the shag-bark walnuts.
1939 E. D. Laborde tr. E. de Martonne Shorter Physical Geogr. (rev. ed.) v. 82 At the end of autumn the Föhn ripens the grapes in the canton of Grisons.
1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day ii. 29 But if it rained, it must have been timely showers to ripen the fruit.
2000 A. Bourdain Kitchen Confid. (2001) 92 He knows where to get the best avocados cheapest, how to ripen them, store them, sell them, merchandize them.
b. intransitive. Of fruit, seed, etc.: to grow to ripeness or maturity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by age or cycles > age or be defined by cyclical growth periods [verb (intransitive)] > ripen
ripeOE
concoct1555
ripen1573
mature1626
maturate1665
1573 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalipse (rev. ed.) f. 95 But the figges ripened [1561 ripe] not, & therefore they remayned greene or vnripe figges.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xviii. 5 When the bud is perfect, and the sowre grape is ripening in the flowre. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) i. i. 62 Holesome Berryes thriue and ripen best, Neighbour'd by Fruit of baser qualitie. View more context for this quotation
1654 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. Bentivoglio Compl. Hist. Warrs Flanders 170 By destroying the corn upon the ground, which was then a ripening.
1712 M. Henry Serm. in Wks. (1853) II. 366/2 The choicest fruits ripen slowly.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) III. 608 Calyx awned, the angles more evident as the seeds ripen.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Lotos-eaters: Choric Song iii, in Poems (new ed.) 113 All its allotted length of days, The flower ripens in its place.
1894 H. Drummond Lowell Lect. Ascent of Man 382 The dormouse thus brings forth its young in August, when the nuts begin to ripen.
1922 Times 12 Oct. 21/3 The past season was so unfavourable that a considerable portion of the replant has not ripened for this year.
1988 D. Madden Birds of Innocent Wood v. 82 All the apples in the orchard ripened and grew big.
2006 M. Pollan Omnivore's Dilemma xx. 397 None..had quite ripened yet, with the exception of a Santa Rosa plum on Parker Street.
II. In figurative and extended uses.
2.
a. intransitive. To become ripe; to grow to maturity, reach the full point of natural growth or development. Now frequently of hope and friendship.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)] > mature
ripeOE
ripen1549
seed1594
develop1744
mature1805
perfect1870
1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Biii v I hate the childe, whose witte ripeneth before the tyme.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iii. ii. sig. Fv His mature age..ripens onely to corrupt and rot The budding hopes of infant modestie.
1620 T. Middleton & W. Rowley World Tost sig. D4v Now my hope ripens fairely.
1696 J. Banks Cyrus Great i. i. 9 When my full Joys had ripen'd for Enjoyment.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the First 8 What golden Joys ambrosial clust'ring glow, In His full beam, and ripen for the Just?
1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. i. 68 His genius was of that kind which ripens slowly.
1798 G. Colman Blue-beard i. i. 8 Our hopes and joys were ripening daily.
1840 R. H. Barham Life Henry Harris in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 196 It was not till our acquaintance had ripened..that these particulars were elicited.
1878 J. P. Hopps Life Jesus iii. 12 The time had come, when all that he had..thought, and desired, had ripened in his soul.
1904 H. H. Peerless Diary 20 June in Brief Jolly Change (2003) 75 Our intimacy with Mr and Mrs Dawson is rapidly ripening.
1921 A. Huxley Crome Yellow ix. 88 It must inevitably take a long time for Armageddon to ripen, to yeast itself up.
1968 Harvard Theol. Rev. 61 438 All these hopes for an actual visit never ripened.
1982 A. S. Dale Outline of Sanity v. 46 Since he stayed on at Oxford for several years, his friendship with Bentley and Oldershaw had time to ripen.
2002 Mandala Mar.–May 26/1 Troubles ripen so fast sometimes, and when they do I try to maintain a correct state of mind.
b. intransitive. To develop into (also to, towards) something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > gradual change > change gradually [verb (intransitive)] > from or into
slidea1398
growc1460
wear1555
accrue1586
ripen1611
shuffle1635
melt1651
steal1660
spawn1677
verge1757
to glide into1800
shade1819
evolve?1831
shadow1839
grade1892
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vii. xxvii. 360 The Danish warres continuing in a successiue maner, fell as it were hereditaryly from the Father vnto the Sonne, and ripened dayly towards their wished haruest.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vii. 92 Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian Feast. Ant. It ripen's towards it. View more context for this quotation
a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia in Poems (1878) III. To Rdr. 133 From some Trees Byll-twisted Barnacles, ripen to Geese.
1668 C. Sedley Mulberry-garden v. i. 63 Nought else could destroy Your hopes, which then were ripening into joy.
1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation i. 47 These Bills ripened into Acts, before the Parliament ended.
1776 W. J. Mickle in tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad Introd. p. xxiv The mathematical genius of Don Henry..received every encouragement..to ripen into perfection and public utility.
1833 H. Martineau French Wines & Politics i. 1 The acquaintance had ripened into friendship.
1853 C. Kingsley Hypatia II. xiv. 326 He tried to laugh away his own fears. And yet they ripened..into certainty.
1882 Cent. Mag. Jan. 370/2 The follies that seemed to amusing and resultless in their time had ripened to this bitter effect.
1923 U.S. Court of Claims Rep. (Lexis) 59 1 In a certain sense an option is a mere pollicitation, a promise without mutuality, not yet ripened into a perfect agreement.
1946 E. R. Curtis Lady Sarah Lennox iv. 51 The young Prince's admiration was ripening into an attachment.
2002 C. M. Brown et al. Evidence Boundary Location (ed. 4) xii. 342 Determining when possession on the ground..has ripened into an ownership right is complex and may often depend on parol testimony.
3.
a. transitive. To cause or allow to develop to a mature state or condition; to bring to perfection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] > mature
perfecta1398
ripea1398
season1545
ripen?1560
digest1607
mature1626
maturate1628
enripena1631
age1675
august1855
?1560 T. Norton Orations of Arsanes sig. Miii Our owne politike & worldly wise subiectes & frendes, which are the greatest numbers, flee daily from vs, make their peace vnder hand with our aduersaries, and still ripen the mischiefes till our state fall rotten to ruine.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus i. i. 227 Whose vertues will I hope, Reflect on Rome..And ripen iustice in this Common weale. View more context for this quotation
1607 B. Jonson Volpone ii. vi. sig. F2v I haue something, else To ripen, for your good. View more context for this quotation
1659 R. Boyle Some Motives & Incentives to Love of God 133 When Age and Study shall have ripen'd and instructed his Intellectualls.
1721 E. Young Revenge iii. i This conduct ripen'd all for me, and ruin.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall (1787) III. xxxviii. 631 Prosperity ripened the principle of decay.
1821 C. Lamb in London Mag. June 614/1 His amelioration-plans must be ripened in a day.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xiii. 223 The action of the university..ripens a bishop, and extrudes a philosopher.
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti i. 10 Sixteen years had ripened and rounded the girlish form.
1944 Times 3 Jan. 10/6 Plans were ripened in many instances by personal talks between the respective presidents.
1995 P. Conroy Beach Music (1996) xxxix. 758 Her bloodstream ripened its betrayal of her and grew dangerous as pitchblende to her health.
b. transitive. With into.
ΚΠ
1641 G. Wither Halelviah i. xcv. 187 But, since that Grace from thee proceeds, Which doth renew our Will; Lord, ripen it, into those Deeds, Which thy Commands fulfill.
a1721 J. Sheffield Wks. (1753) I. 15 Love ripens all that dross into the purest gold.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa III. xii. 85 Ripening into execution my plots upon Themselves.
1843 J. S. Robb Streaks of Squatter Life (1847) 53 I would fain ripen those feelings into a strong bond of friendship.
1887 Pop. Sci. Monthly July 382 At a very early period there was evolved another theory, which, having been ripened into a doctrine, cost the earth dear indeed.
1902 Strand Mag. Aug. 161 A community of taste in tobacco and other matters, had in the course of seven years ripened the acquaintance into a close friendship.
1953 C. E. Raven Nat. Relig. & Christian Theol. iii. 29 As we turn from the Old Testament to the New we shall discover how this affinity was ripened into an intimate and fruitful union by the events of the three hundred years before Christ.
2007 J. B. Morris Establishing Justice Middle Amer. iv. 181 It was the informer's information that Spinelli was accepting wagers that ripened suspicion into probable cause.
4. transitive. To make ripe; to bring to a state of maturity. Later often with reference to processes by which products are brought to a required state for use.
ΚΠ
1561 H. Bennet tr. W. Capito Lyfe Ecolampadius in Famous & Godly Hist. ii.sig. k.iii Ye Lorde ripened hym the tymelyer, yt he might employe hym in hys seruice.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Evangelists & Acts (Luke v. 39) Age clarifies wine, and ripens it.
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 iii. 2 For them alone the Heav'ns had kindly heat, In Eastern Quarries ripening precious Dew.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey III. xi. 556 The blooming boy is ripen'd into man.
1773 J. Wesley Let. ?15 Jan. (1931) VI. 11 Come while I am able, God assisting, to build you up in faith, to ripen your gifts, and to introduce you to the people.
1880 Spons' Encycl. Manuf. ii. 640 They are worked by shallow pits, and are ‘ripened’, ground, and washed, as the other clays.
1894 Field 9 June 844/3 They have learned the reason why the cream is ripened, and how it is ripened.
1939 Sun (Baltimore) 22 Mar. 3/1 The method [involving ultra-violet rays]..supplants the..process of ‘ripening’ or ‘hanging’ choice meats for weeks to achieve tenderness.
1986 House & Garden July 138/4 Pasteurization was rare, so bacteria had usually ‘ripened’ and soured the cream.
1994 D. Tulchinsky & A. B. Little Maternal–Fetal Endocrinol. (ed. 2) x. 167/2 It is clear, however, that exogenous relaxin is capable of softening and ripening the pregnant cervix as well as advancing Bishop score.
5. Medicine.
a. transitive. To cause to become ripe (ripe adj. 7c). Also intransitive. Cf. ripe v.1 3. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > suppuration > cause suppuration [verb (transitive)] > bring to head
ripea1398
to bring to a head1566
concoct1584
ripen1590
1590 W. Clever Flower of Phisicke 32 Some meete framed medicine, to ripen the disease.
1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 95/1 (heading) A potione to mature, or ripen, an Apostematione [Ger. Ein Tranck, die Apostem zuerweichen].
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 361 Then renew it, till such time that it ripen and break the sore.
a1617 P. Baynes Entire Comm. Epist. Paul to Ephesians (1643) 140 Physitians by ripning diseases make way to heal them.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved xxxv. 494 A Poultis to ripen any Tumour.
1883 L. A. Bernays Cultural Industries Queensland 23 The pulp roasted and applied to a boil soon ripens it.
1903 Med. Age 21 16 The latter operation [sc. extraction of the lens] is..decidedly preferable to any of the procedures sometimes employed for the purpose of artificially ripening the cataract.
1912 M. R. Trumbower in Special Rep. Dis. Cattle (U.S. Dept. Agric.) (rev. ed.) 341 Treatment.—Poulticing to ripen the abscess.
1995 P. Sensarma & A. K. Ghosh in R. E. Schultes & S. von Reis Ethnobotany 70 Santals apply a paste of the flowers to ripen boils.
b. intransitive. To become ripe (ripe adj. 7c).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > suppuration > suppurate [verb (intransitive)] > come to head
mature?a1425
to gather heada1593
beal1611
ripen1653
gather1804
point1876
1653 R. Pemell De Morbis Puerorum 19 If the spots..flash abroad not ripening speedily, and if hoarsenesse follow, these are very bad signs.
1702 J. Floyer Anc. Ψυχρολουσία Revived iv. 163 Cold Water hinders any Pain from ripening.
1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 61 A Cancerous Humour is some Years ripening.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 187 The violent Motion..caused them [sc. swellings] to ripen and break.
1894 G. W. Carey Biochemic Syst. Med. 138 Silicea greatly assists suppuration, causes the boil to ripen and often break without surgical interference.
1909 Amer. Jrnl. Clin. Med. 16 411/2 The unfortunate waits patiently till the abscess ripens, when the pus exudes and the wound heals.
1955 Lancet 17 Sept. 592/1 It has been said that a prostate, like a cataract, must ripen before it is fit to be removed.
2001 M. Grossman & V. McCabe Greater Vision 52 And these patients are told, ‘Let's wait until the cataract ripens [gets worse], and then we can remove it surgically.’
6. intransitive. Of a natural or manufactured product: to arrive at a mature or perfect state; to reach the proper condition or stage for being utilized or consumed. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. ripe adj. 7a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)] > mature > so as to be ready for use
ripen1658
1658 E. Ashmole Way to Bliss iii. ii. 183 Agricola saith..that Salt-Peter, after that by draining it hath lost its taste and virtue, if it be laid open in the Weather, will within five or six years space, grow and ripen, and recover his power and strength again.
1677 J. Crowne Destr. Jerusalem iii. i. 27 The rich Gold lies ripening in the Mine.
1699 S. Garth Dispensary vi. 70 Metals ripen in vast Cakes of Oar.
1756 J. Warton Ess. on Pope I. ii. 78 In some minds the ore is a long time in ripening.
1799 J. West Poems & Plays II. 234 Successive ages must refine The diamond ripening in the mine.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad iv. 152 No useless mine these northern hills enclose, No ruby ripens and no diamond glows.
1883 R. Haldane Workshop Receipts 2nd Ser. 335/2 It is then poured out in the form of flat cakes..and is left in that condition for many days to ‘ripen’.
1886 Sci. Amer. 16 Jan. 40/3 After ripening, the cream is churned.
1900 Sc. Farmer 29 Sept. 771/1 The cream is ripening too quickly in spite of all we can do.
1944 Jrnl. Farm Econ. 26 145 Cheddar cheese ripens faster if the foci of inoculation are uniformly distributed.
2000 S. Fallon & M. Rothschild World Food: France (Lonely Planet Guide) 148 Feuille de Dreux..ripens under chestnut feuilles (leaves) to prevent the cheeses from sticking together.
7. intransitive. Of land: to become sufficiently valuable to let or sell for development.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > fluctuation in price > [verb (intransitive)] > rise (of prices) > rise in price
arise1340
rise?1468
mend1606
advance1664
to run up1705
to go up1826
enhance1889
ripen1892
1892 S. C. Buxton Hand-bk. Polit. Questions (ed. 8) 323 As agricultural land gradually ripens into building land, the value of vacant land would be ever changing.
1894 Rep. Elect Comm. Town Improvem. 150/1 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 292) XV. 235 Those who buy land which is ripening, as the noble Lord puts it, acting under the most competent professional advice, sometimes make disastrous speculations.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 11 Feb. 1/2 We see landlords..holding land on the fringe of towns until it ‘ripens’, as the phrase goes, to the value which secures them an immense profit on their outlay.
1940 Accounting Rev. 15 537/2 Interest costs mount during the period while improvements are under construction and while land is ripening for a higher use.
1999 M. Gaffney in K. C. Wenzer Land-value Taxation (2000) vii. 96 Land ripens because of falling building costs as well as increasing demand.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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