batten

English

/ˈbætən/

verb
Definitions
  • (intransitive) To become better; improve in condition, especially by feeding.
  • (intransitive) To feed (on); to revel (in).
  • (intransitive) To thrive by feeding; grow fat; feed oneself gluttonously.
  • (intransitive) To thrive, prosper, or live in luxury, especially at the expense of others; fare sumptuously.
  • (intransitive) To gratify a morbid appetite or craving; gloat.
  • (transitive) To improve by feeding; fatten; make fat or cause to thrive due to plenteous feeding.
  • (transitive) To fertilize or enrich, as land.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English *battenen derived from Old Norse batna (recover, grow better, improve) inherited from Proto-Germanic *batnaną (get better, become good) derived from Proto-Indo-European *bhAd- (good).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*bhAd-

Gloss

good

Concept
Semantic Field

Emotions and values

Ontological Category

Property

Kanji

良, 善

Emoji
🦸 🦸‍♀️ 🦸‍♂️

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms