lithen means to make lithe, soften; to ease, mitigate. It carries an Arena rating of 1270, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, lithen ranks #367 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,244 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #5,044 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #6,283 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words.
lithen is pronounced /ˈlaɪðən/.
Why “lithen” is a great word
LITHEN — [Verb] To make lithe or supple; or, to thicken a broth or gravy with a thickening agent such as flour or oatmeal. From Middle English lithnien, from lithe (meaning "soft, gentle, mild") and the verbal suffix -en. Unlike "thicken," a general term for adding viscosity, or "supple," a static description of flexibility, to lithen is the active process of imparting a specific, yielding grace or a substantial body. It is the patient kneading that loosens a stiff limb, the measured sprinkling of oatmeal that gives a thin stew a comforting weight, or the slow work of experience that softens a rigid mind—the quiet alchemy of turning resistance into flow.
Etymology
From Middle English *lithnien, equivalent to lithe + -en.
verb
- To make lithe, soften; to ease, mitigate
- To thicken a broth or gravy with a thickening agent (e.g. flour, oatmeal, etc.)
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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