redden
UK[ˈredn]US[ˈredn]
v
To become red or make something red.
v
To blush, especially from embarrassment or shame.
Morpheme Breakdown
red
en
red
color
en
verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'redden' is a transparent English formation, combining the native adjective 'red' with the productive verb-forming suffix '-en'. The suffix '-en' has Germanic origins and is commonly used to create verbs meaning "to become or make" from adjectives, as seen in 'darken', 'soften', and 'brighten'. The literal meaning, "to make or become red", directly reflects this morphological logic. Over time, the verb developed a specific figurative application to the human face, capturing the physiological and emotional response of blushing, thereby linking the concrete color change to an abstract state of emotion.
Analysis
Structure: red (color) + en (verb suffix)
- red: From Old English 'rēad', meaning the color red. Its ultimate origin is Proto-Germanic raudaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rowdʰós, related to 'red' and 'ruddy'.
- en: A verb-forming suffix from Old English '-nian', used to form verbs from adjectives, meaning "to become or make something have the quality of".
Examples
The sky will redden as the sun sets.
She could feel her cheeks redden with embarrassment.
The intense heat caused the metal to redden.