To make something broader or wider in extent or range.
Derived from 'breadth' (Old English 'bræd' + -th suffix indicating quality) plus the verb-forming suffix '-en'. This archaic verb followed patterns like 'strengthen' or 'widen'.
This forgotten verb shows how English used to form verbs more freely from nouns—we lost words like 'breadthen' as language streamlined, preferring 'widen' and 'broaden' instead.
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