# stiffen

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈstɪfən/ · frequency rank #53,879

## Definitions
1. To make stiff.
2. To become stiff.

## Etymology
From Middle English stifnen, equivalent to stiff + -en.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/stiffen