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# sharpened

verb form (past of sharpen: sharpen, sharpens, sharpened, sharpening); adjective (sharpened)

«sharpened» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Sharpened is the past form of «sharpen»: to make a point or edge sharper, like a pencil or a knife. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#m1)
2. As an adjective it means having been made sharp: «a sharpened pencil». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#m2)
3. It can also mean made stronger or clearer: «sharpened skills». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school pupils use sharpened pencils and empty the sharpener over the bin. In everyday life knives and tools are sharpened by adults. In stories a hero may have sharpened senses. Phrases: «a freshly sharpened pencil», «sharpened his skills».

### Examples

- I sharpened my pencil before the test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x1)
- Bring two sharpened pencils to the exam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x2)
- Grandad sharpened the axe on a stone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x3)
- Practising every day sharpened her piano skills. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x4)
- Be careful — the knife has just been sharpened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x5)
- The fox's hunger sharpened its sense of smell. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x6)
- The mother immediately took an axe and sharpened it, and went down to the dike with it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/#x7)

### Note

Past of «sharpen» (sharp + -en). A «sharpener» is the tool for pencils. Sharpened knives cut more easily, so they need extra care; only adults should sharpen knives.

## In Jewish tradition

Used for swords, arrows and tongues made ready to hurt, showing both war and cruel speech.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads the sharpened sword in Ezekiel as God's judgment on Jerusalem made ready, and sharpened tongues as slander.

### Examples

- They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; vipers' venom is under their lips. (Writings PSA.140.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sharpened/#x1)
- 'Son of man, prophesy, and say: Thus saith the LORD: Say: A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished: (Prophets EZK.21.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sharpened/#x2)
- Their tongue is a sharpened arrow, it speaketh deceit; one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him. (Prophets JER.9.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sharpened/#x3)

### Note

Past of «sharpen» (sharp + -en). A «sharpener» is the tool for pencils. Sharpened knives cut more easily, so they need extra care; only adults should sharpen knives.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sharpened» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sharpened/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sharpened» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sharpened.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «sharpened» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sharpened/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sharpened» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sharpened.html) on Mova free.