different between ripen vs overripen

English

Etymology

From Middle English *ripenen (suggested by deverbal ripening (“causing ripness; ripening”)), equivalent to ripe +? -en (verbal suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??a?p?n/

Verb

ripen (third-person singular simple present ripens, present participle ripening, simple past and past participle ripened)

1. (intransitive) to grow ripe; to become mature (said of grain, fruit, flowers etc.)

   Grapes ripen in the sun.

   • 1918, John Muir, Steep Trails Chapter XII

     […] the desert soil of the Great Basin is as rich in the elements that in rainy regions rise and ripen into food as that of any other State in the Union.

2. (intransitive) To approach or come to perfection.
3. (transitive) To cause (something) to mature; to make ripe

   The warm sun ripened the corn.

4. (transitive) To mature; to fit or prepare; to bring to perfection

   ripen the judgment

   • 1673, John Milton, When Faith and Love which parted from thee never

     When Faith and Love which parted from thee never
     Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God

Derived terms

• overripen
• ripening
• ripener
• ripeness

Translations

Anagrams

• Perin, Piner, Prine, Repin, repin

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

ripen

1. definite masculine singular of ripe

Alternative forms

• ripa

English

Etymology

over- +? ripen

Verb

overripen (third-person singular simple present overripens, present participle overripening, simple past and past participle overripened)

1. To ripen too much; to become overripe.

Translations