sharpen Copy link Outline I. To give a keen edge or fine point1. ăcuo, ui, ūtum, 32. ăcūmĭno, 1 (late)3. aspĕro, 1 (to rub on anything, and so to sharpen)4. cuspĭdo, 1 (v. TO POINT)II. Fig. • sharpen: I. To give a keen edge or fine point: 1. ăcuo, ui, ūtum, 3: to s. a saw, serram a., Cic. Tusc. 5, 40, 116: to s. a sword, ferrum a., Virg. Aen. 8, 386: to s. one's teeth, dentes a., Hor. Od. 3, 20, 10. Comp. (1). praeăcuo, 3 (to s. at one end to a point: v. rare): v. to point. (2). exăcuo, 3 (to make very sharp or pointed): to s. iron tools on a whetstone, ferramenta cote ex., Plin. 28, 4, 12: to s. stakes and forks, vallos furcasque ex. (= praeacuere), Virg. G. 1, 264. 2. ăcūmĭno, 1 (late): Plin.: Lact. 3. aspĕro, 1 (to rub on anything, and so to sharpen): to s. a blunted dagger on a stone, pugionem obtusum a. saxo, Tac. A. 15, 54. 4. cuspĭdo, 1 (v. to point): Plin. Phr.: to be s.'d to a point in the fire, in mucronem ardescere, Tac. 15, 54. II. Fig.: Of the intellect: to sharpen one's wits, etc.: ăcuo, 3: to s. the tongue by practice in speaking, a. linguam exercitatione dicendi, Cic. Brut. 97, 321. So, exăcuo, 3: to s. the edge of the mind, ingenii aciem ex., id. Leg. 1, 23, 60.
SHARPEN Copy link • SHARPENpraeacuere (to make pointed at the end or in front): acuere: exacuere (to make sharp or pointed in general): acuminare: cuspidare (to put on a point at one end or in front, to fix a pointed head): cuneare (in the shape of a wedge). To sharpen on a whetstone, cote acuere aliquid.