Roughen

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɹʌfən/

Definitions

1. To modify a surface by removing its smoothness and introducing a more textured quality
2. To alter a surface so it becomes uneven or coarse in texture
3. To cause the exterior of an object to lose its smoothness and appear more jagged or irregular

Etymology: "Roughen" is a plain formation: the adjective "rough" with the suffix "-en," which turns an adjective into a verb meaning "to make or become" the quality named. So to roughen something is literally to make it rough. The verb is built this way on a well-established pattern, as in "soften," "harden," "widen," and "deepen," which all follow the same model. The suffix has a long ancestry. It descends from an old Germanic verb-forming element that appeared in early forms of English as "-nian" in Old English, then as "-en" and "-nen" in Middle English, before settling into the modern "-en." The adjective it attaches to, "rough," goes back to the same Germanic stock and has been part of English vocabulary since Old English times, so the verb is a native English construction rather than a borrowing.

Synonyms: coarsen, ruggedize, texture, abrade, grind

Antonyms: smooth, polish, finish, gloss, sleek