anneal
UK[əˈniːl]US[əˈniːl]
v
To heat and then cool (metal or glass) slowly in order to remove internal stresses and make it stronger or less brittle.
v
To strengthen or toughen something, especially through a difficult experience.
Morpheme Breakdown
an
neal
an
on, at, toward, to
neal
to set on fire, kindle, burn
Etymology
The word 'anneal' originates from the Old English verb onǣlan, meaning "to set on fire, to kindle". This term is a compound of the prefix on- (meaning "on, at") and ǣlan (meaning "to burn, to kindle"), which itself stems from the Proto-Germanic root ailijaną, related to fire. The specific metallurgical sense developed in Middle English, reflecting the process of heating metal or glass to a critical temperature and then allowing it to cool slowly, thereby altering its physical properties to reduce brittleness. The modern figurative meaning, "to strengthen or toughen through trial", is a logical semantic extension of this physical process, drawing a parallel between material fortification and personal or intellectual hardening.
Analysis
Structure: an + neal
- an: A prefix of Germanic origin, meaning "on, at, toward, to".
- neal: A root derived from Old English nēlan, meaning "to set on fire, kindle, burn", from Proto-Germanic naulijaną.
Examples
The glassblower will anneal the vase in a special oven to prevent it from cracking.
The difficult years in the army served to anneal his character.
Copper wire must be annealed to make it more flexible for electrical work.