v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sweetened p. pr. & vb. n. Sweetening. ] [ See Sweet, a. ] 1. To make sweet to the taste; as, to sweeten tea. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make pleasing or grateful to the mind or feelings; as, to sweeten life; to sweeten friendship. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make less painful or laborious; to relieve; as, to sweeten the cares of life. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

And sweeten every secret tear. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To soften to the eye; to make delicate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Correggio has made his memory immortal by the strength he has given to his figures, and by sweetening his lights and shadows, and melting them into each other. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter; as, to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected; to sweeten the air. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To make warm and fertile; -- opposed to sour; as, to dry and sweeten soils. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To restore to purity; to free from taint; as, to sweeten water, butter, or meat. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become sweet. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, sweetens; one who palliates; that which moderates acrimony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of making sweet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which sweetens. [ 1913 Webster ]