Enripen

/ɛnˈraɪpən/ verb

Definition

To make or cause to become ripe; to ripen or mature something.

Etymology

From en- (causative prefix) + ripen (from ripe, Old English, related to 'reap'). The en- prefix creates a transitive verb from the intransitive 'ripen.'

Kelly Says

This word shows a subtle but important English distinction—'ripen' can be intransitive (fruit ripens on its own) but 'enripen' makes it transitive (you enripen the fruit), a pattern repeated throughout English verbs.

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