skärpte

Skärpte is the simple past tense form of the Swedish verb skärpa, meaning to sharpen or hone. The primary sense is literal sharpening of blades or tools, but skärpa is also used figuratively to refer to sharpening or refining non-physical qualities such as skills, focus, or judgment.

Skärpte is a transitive verb and requires a direct object: Jag skärpte kniven. In prose and speech it describes a completed action in the past. The present tense of skärpa is skärper, and the past participle is skärpt, used with perfect tenses (har skärpt, hade skärpt). The infinitive form is skärpa.

Etymology and related forms: Skärpa derives from the Swedish adjective skarp, meaning sharp, which in turn comes from the broader Germanic root for sharpness. Skärpte corresponds to the root as a past tense form, and it shares cognates with related words in other Scandinavian languages.

Usage notes: In addition to literal sharpening, skärpa is used in figurative expressions such as att skärpa sin uppmärksamhet (to sharpen one’s attention) or att skärpa sina kunskaper (to sharpen one’s skills). The term conveys making something more precise, clear, or effective, whether describing a physical edge or improving mental or practical sharpness.