coarsen
Meaning
to become or make something become rough or less smooth in texture
to become or make someone or something become less polite, refined, or sensitive in manner or character
Structure
Usage
the constant exposure to wind and salt began to coarsen the fabric of the sail.
some critics argue that sensationalist media can coarsen public discourse.
his hands had coarsened after years of manual labor.
Etymology
the word 'coarsen' is a relatively modern english formation, emerging in the 18th century. it is built upon the adjective 'coarse', which entered middle english with meanings related to ordinary quality or inferior texture. the addition of the productive verb-forming suffix '-en', a native english element from old english, systematically creates a verb meaning 'to make or become coarse'. the semantic logic is transparent: the process (en) of making something possess the qualities of roughness, lack of refinement, or inferior texture (coarse). this follows a common pattern in english where adjectives are converted into verbs of causation or change of state, such as 'widen', 'sharpen', or 'darken'.
Analysis
coarse (from middle english 'cors', meaning ordinary or inferior, of uncertain origin, possibly from the phrase 'in course' meaning 'in the ordinary way') + en (a verb-forming suffix from old english '-nian', indicating to make or become)