de-sweeten
|de/sweet/en|
C1
/diːˈswiːtən/
reduce sweetness
Etymology
Etymology Information
'de-sweeten' originates from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'remove' or 'reverse' and the word 'sweeten' which means 'to make sweet'.
Historical Evolution
'Sweeten' comes from Old English 'swētenian', and the prefix 'de-' was added to form 'de-sweeten'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to make less sweet', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to remove or reduce the sweetness of something.
The chef decided to de-sweeten the sauce by adding more vinegar.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42