Harshes

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. To impose severe or strict conditions or judgments; to become more severe in tone or manner; to cause discomfort or distress by being excessively rough or unkind
2. To apply a rigorous or stern approach; to adopt a tougher or more critical attitude; to inflict unpleasantness through unyielding or severe behavior
3. To make circumstances more severe or unmerciful; to increase the strictness or severity of criticism or treatment; to cause another to experience harshness or hardship through rough or uncompromising actions

Etymology: "Harshes" is simply the third-person singular present form of the verb "harsh," meaning to treat someone very strictly. The verb is a later development from the adjective, which is the form with the longer history. The adjective "harsh" arrived in Middle English in forms such as "harsk" and "hask," and its origin is disputed. Some scholars trace it to Old Norse "harskr," which meant "rancid," as in spoiled fat or butter, and link it to related Scandinavian words with that sense. Others derive it from Middle Low German "harsch," meaning "rough," which literally carried the sense "hairy," from a root related to the word for hair. The sense of roughness, of something that grates on the senses, is probably the bridge between these ideas, since a rough texture and a sour taste both produce an unpleasant sensation.

Synonyms: strictens, intensifies, exacerbates, toughens, strengthens

Antonyms: softens, eases, lessens, lightens, mitigates