slighten

present singular third person slightens · participle present slightening · participle past slightened · past slightened

1. ambitransitiveTo make or become slight; make or become less pronounced, less noticeable, or less obvious.

   His smile slightened as if he knew they talked of him.

   2004, D. L. Larson, Memories Trail, page 459

   1 more example

   With tissue I softened my rouge, slightened my lipstick; studying my redesigns in my green compact's mirror I marveled, seeing yet another strange face.

   2007, Jack Womack, Elvissey

2. transitiveTo slight.

   They may take ill or feel slightened for not having been approached directly.

   1997, Rajendra Kumar Sharma, Sociological Methods and Techniques, page 257

   2 more examples

   […] as God forbid that anyone should hint a slightening word of what our sons and brothers are doing just now, and doing for us!

   1920, Arthur Quiller-Couch, On the Art of Reading

   It is an odious wisdom to blaspheme, / Much more to slighten, or deny their powers

   1603 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, Seianus His Fall, London: […] G[eorge] Elld, for Thomas Thorpe, published 1605, →OCLC, (please specify the page)

3. regionaltransitiveTo level out, smooth, or flatten.

   to slighten the sheets out