thickenv.
/ˈθɪk(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈθɪkən/ To make or become thick or thicker.
1.
a. transitive. To make dense in consistence; to coagulate, inspissate. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > state of being thick enough to retain form > give consistency to [verb (transitive)] > coagulate
thickc1000
runlOE
quaila1398
congealc1400
curd?a1425
thickenc1425
coagulec1550
clumper1562
curdle1585
clutter1601
quarl1607
coagulate1611
posseta1616
sam1615
concrete1635
earn1670
clotter1700
cotter1781
c1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 30 Vnto þat þe watrynes of þe Iuyse be somewhat þikned.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Thycken or congeale, congelo.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xiv. 90 Heate doth sauegard and thicken the milke.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 353 By indulging his Body he thickens his Understanding.
a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 44 It is a very good thing to thicken gravy with.
1801 C. Dibdin Observ. Tour Eng. I. 356 The illuminati, who generally thicken in the clear, so to confound the business, that a man of plain sense can make nothing out of them.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. xiii. 221 Oatmeal was used scantily, but generally for thickening soup.
b. intransitive. To increase in density or consistence; also, to become turbid or cloudy. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > become (more) dense or solid [verb (intransitive)]
thicka1000
starkOE
congealc1400
starken?a1513
concrease1578
thicken1598
knit1605
condensate1607
fix1626
saddena1642
concretea1676
incrassate1733
solidify1837
consolidate1885
1598 tr. G. de Rosselli Epulario I j b Set it all night to thicken..in a cold place.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 19 A licquor, or gumme, which thickens of it selfe.
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity i, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 410 Water stopt gives birth To grass and plants, and thickens into earth.
1888 W. Besant Fifty Years Ago vii. 121 There comes a time when the brow clouds, and the speech thickens, and the tongue refuses to act.
2. intransitive. To become dark, obscure, or opaque; of the weather: to become misty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > darkness or gloom > be dark or gloomy [verb (intransitive)] > become dark, dim, or obscure
skewc1400
overcastc1475
thickena1616
darken1722
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [verb (intransitive)] > storm or be stormy > become thick (of a storm)
thickena1616
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > mist > [verb (intransitive)]
thicka1000
thicken1784
duff1876
to come down1891
the world > matter > gas > air > [verb (intransitive)] > thicken
thicken1860
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. ii. 51 Light thickens,..Good things of Day begin to droope, and drowse. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. iii. 25 Thy Luster thickens, When he shines by. View more context for this quotation
1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. ii. i. 14 I'le face this Storm that thickens in the winde.
1784 J. King Cook's Voy. Pacific III. vi. iii. 239 The weather still thickening, and preventing a nearer approach to the land.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xxv. 189 As we approached the summit the air thickened more and more.
3. transitive. To make close or dense in disposition of parts or in texture; to fill up the interstices or intervals of. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > gather in one mass or form lumps
wholec1443
consolidate1511
clod1530
thicken?1578
contract1620
acervate1623
lump1624
bundlea1628
club1641
to lump together (occasionally up)1692
commassate1694
slump1822
pack1824
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 11 Seauen posts on a syde, that stood a twelue foot a sunder, thikned between with well proporcioned Pillers turnd.
1620 T. Granger Syntagma Logicum 30 The clouds are not thickned in the skie: therfore it will not be raine.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Thicken, v.,..to make frequent, to make close or numerous.
1814 H. M. Brackenridge Views Louisiana ii. iv. 116 It is perhaps good policy in our government..to thicken the frontier, and to suffer the intermediate space to fill up gradually.
4. intransitive. To become crowded, numerous, or frequent; to gather thickly. Also (poetic): †To move in great numbers, to flock, troop (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (intransitive)] > crowd together
thickc1000
pressa1350
empressc1400
shock1548
serry1581
pester1610
serr1683
thicken1726
crush1755
scrouge1798
pack1828
to close up1835
to be packed (in) like sardines1911
scrum1913
1726 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xviii. 49 Well-pleas'd they spring Swift from their seats, and thick'ning form a ring.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 236 Honours shall..thicken over him.
1789 F. Burney Diary 19 Nov. (1842) V. 72 The crowd every instant thickening.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby liv. 544 Misfortune and discovery are thickening about your head.
5.
a. transitive. To increase the substance between opposite surfaces of; to make thicker in measure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > thickness > make thick [verb (transitive)]
thicken?1611
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiii. 123 Lance was lin'd with lance; Shields thickned with opposed shields.
1781 R. B. Sheridan Trip to Scarborough i. ii The calves of these stockings are thicken'd a little too much.
1858 G. Glenny Gardener's Every-day Bk. (new ed.) 244/1 The earth in the alleys [is to be] thrown up to thicken the soil above them a little.
1884 F. O. Bower & D. H. Scott tr. H. A. de Bary Compar. Anat. Phanerogams & Ferns 229 In most cases the walls are thickened by spiral fibres.
b. intransitive. To become thicker in measurement; to increase in girth or bulk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > thickness > become thick [verb (intransitive)]
thicken1763
1763 J. Mills New Syst. Pract. Husbandry IV. 35 That their roots..may have full room to thicken and run downward.
1805 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) 42 Ice in the river thickening.
1872 R. B. Smyth Mining Statist. 21 The seams..thicken in one place and thin out in another.
c. transitive. figurative. To make more substantial; to strengthen, confirm.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > support, corroborate
fasteneOE
i-sothea925
sustainc1325
witness1362
approvec1380
confirmc1384
affirma1393
justifya1393
to bear outa1475
corrobore1485
uphold1485
nourisha1522
underpinc1522
to countenance outa1529
favoura1530
soothe1544
strengthen1548
comfort1593
second1596
accredit1598
evidencea1601
warrantise1600
compact1608
back1612
thickena1616
accreditate1654
shoulder1674
support1691
corroborate1706
carry1835
to give (also lend) colour1921
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 435 This may helpe to thicken other proofes, That doe demonstrate thinly. View more context for this quotation
1893 C. W. Wendte in Reasonable Relig. 73 The philosophers..are thickening up their systems..with scientific facts.
6. intransitive. figurative. To become more complex or intricate (esp. said of a plot); to increase in intensity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (intransitive)] > in intensity or degree
waxc897
reforce1490
rise1594
fortify1605
strengthena1616
harden1625
intend1655
thicken1672
exasperate1742
intensify1853
thick1879
to hot up1922
to build up1936
1672 Duke of Buckingham Rehearsal iii. 27 Ay, now the Plot thickens very much upon us.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 491 The Combate thickens, like the Storm that flies.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 6 The cry, That thickened as the chase drew nigh.
1859 C. Kingsley Misc. I. i. 16 As the quarrel thickened and neared.
Derivatives
thickened adj. /ˈθɪk(ə)nd/ that is made thick or thicker, in various senses.
/ˈθɪk(ə)nd/ that is made thick or thicker, in various senses.ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > viscosity > [adjective] > thickened
viscatec1400
inspissate1603
incrassate1608
thickened?1611
inspissated1655
spissated1727
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [adjective] > densely packed
thickc893
thick-set?a1366
rankc1450
compact1563
thronged1581
thickened?1611
close1654
dense1776
tight1942
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > thickness > [adjective] > thick > becoming or made thick
thickening1721
thickened1861
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xix. 368 A bright thickned bush of golden haire.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 742 The thick'nd Skie Like a dark Ceeling stood. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 134 Mix it with thicken'd Juice of sodden Wines. View more context for this quotation
1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. i. 401 Plants with succulent or thickened leaves.
1900 Daily News 17 Apr. 7/4 With solids and pneumatics [tyres], both of the wired-on and thickened-edge varieties.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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