different between lessen vs slake

English

Etymology

From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less +? -en (verbal suffix).

Pronunciation

• enPR: l??s?n, IPA^(key): /?l?s?n/
• Rhymes: -?s?n
• Homophone: lesson

Verb

lessen (third-person singular simple present lessens, present participle lessening, simple past and past participle lessened)

1. (transitive) To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
   • a. 1686, Benjamin Calamy, a sermon

     Charity […] shall lessen his punishment.

   • December 6, 1709, Francis Atterbury, a sermon preach'd before the sons of the clergy at their anniversary-meeting in the Church of St. Paul

     St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.
2. (intransitive) To become less.

Translations

Conjunction

lessen

1. (nonstandard, dialect) unless.

Anagrams

• Elsens, elsens, lenses, sensel

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?l?s?(n)/
• Rhymes: -?s?n

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch lesschen, from a merger of two Old Dutch [Term?] verbs:

• *leskan, from Proto-Germanic *leskan?; class 5 strong, intransitive.
• lesken, from Proto-Germanic *laskijan?; class 1 weak, causative of the first verb.

Verb

lessen

1. (transitive) to quench (thirst)

Inflection

Derived terms

• blussen

Etymology 2

From les +? -en.

Verb

lessen

1. (intransitive) to take a lesson (usually a driving lesson)

Inflection

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the main entry.

Noun

lessen

1. Plural form of les

Hungarian

Etymology

les +? -jen

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?l????n]
• Hyphenation: les?sen

Verb

lessen

1. third-person singular subjunctive present indefinite of les

Swedish

Adjective

lessen

1. Alternative spelling of ledsen

Anagrams

• selens

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /sle?k/
• Rhymes: -e?k

Etymology 1

From Middle English slaken (“to render slack, to slake”), from Middle English sleacian, from sleac (“slack”).

The modern Swedish verb släcka retains most of the same meanings as listed below, as in släcka sin törst (“quench one's thirst”), släcka elden (“put out the fire”), and släckt kalk (“slaked lime”).

Verb

slake (third-person singular simple present slakes, present participle slaking, simple past and past participle slaked)

1. (transitive) To satisfy (thirst, or other desires). [from 14^thc.]

   Synonyms: quench, extinguish
2. (transitive) To cool (something) with water or another liquid. [from 14^thc.]
   • 1961, Lawrence Durrell, Justine, p.14:

     Notes for landscape tones. Long sequences of tempera. Light filtered through the essence of lemons. An air full of brick-dust - sweet smelling brick dust and the odour of hot pavements slaked with water.

3. (intransitive) To become mixed with water, so that a true chemical combination takes place.

5. (transitive) To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination takes place.

6. (intransitive, obsolete) Of a person: to become less energetic, to slacken in one's efforts. [11^th-17^thc.]
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To slacken; to become relaxed or loose. [11^th-16^thc.]
   • 1595, John Davies, Orchestra

     When the body's strongest sinews slake.

8. (intransitive, obsolete) To become less intense; to weaken, decrease in force. [14^th-19^thc.]
9. (intransitive, obsolete) To go out; to become extinct.
   • 1613, William Browne, Britannia's Pastorals

     His flame did slake.

Derived terms

• slaked
• slake trough

Translations

Etymology 2

Probably connected with Icelandic sleikja, "to lick", and German schlecken (“to lick”).

Verb

slake (third-person singular simple present slakes, present participle slaking, simple past and past participle slaked)

1. (transitive, Scotland) To besmear.

Noun

slake (plural slakes)

1. (Scotland) A sloppy mess.

Anagrams

• Akels, LASEK, Lakes, Leaks, kales, lakes, leaks

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

slake

1. definite singular/plural of slak

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

slake

1. definite singular/plural of slak