skärpa
See also: skarpa
Swedish
Etymology
From Old Swedish skærpa, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz (literally “cutting”). A derivative of skarp.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /²ɧærpa/, [²ɧærːpa]
Audio: (file) - Rhymes: -²ærpa
Noun
skärpa c
- sharpness; the cutting ability of an edge
- sharpness, distinctness in an image
Declension
| nominative | genitive | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | indefinite | skärpa | skärpas |
| definite | skärpan | skärpans | |
| plural | indefinite | skärpor | skärpors |
| definite | skärporna | skärpornas |
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “cutting ability”): slöhet
Verb
skärpa (present skärper, preterite skärpte, supine skärpt, imperative skärp)
- (about a cutting blade, or an argument) sharpen; to make sharp
- tighten; to make stricter
- Säkerhetskontrollen vid flygplatserna har skärpts ytterligare.
- The security checks at the airports have been further tightened.
- (reflexive) to straighten up (become focused and serious, improve one's behavior, stop messing around)
Conjugation
| active | passive | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| infinitive | skärpa | skärpas | ||
| supine | skärpt | skärpts | ||
| imperative | skärp | — | ||
| imper. plural1 | skärpen | — | ||
| present | past | present | past | |
| indicative | skärper | skärpte | skärps, skärpes | skärptes |
| ind. plural1 | skärpa | skärpte | skärpas | skärptes |
| subjunctive2 | skärpe | skärpte | skärpes | skärptes |
| present participle | skärpande | |||
| past participle | skärpt | |||
1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.
Synonyms
- (sharpen): vässa
Related terms
References
- skärpa in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
- skärpa in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)