spisse

Spisse is a Norwegian verb meaning to sharpen or to make something pointed. It is commonly used for physical objects, such as tools or pencils, but can also be used in figurative contexts to describe making something more pointed or incisive.

The infinitive form is å spisse. In the present tense the verb is spisser (eg, han spisser blyanten – he sharpens the pencil). The past tense and the past participle are both spisset (eg, han spisset blyanten, har spisset blyanten). The form is regular for Norwegian verbs of this class, and it is most often encountered in everyday language when discussing sharpening or sharpening-related actions.

Common usages include:

- sharpening a pencil or knife (å spisse blyanten/kniven)

- figurative sharpening, such as making an argument more pointed or precise (å spisse et argument)

- idiomatic expressions referring to increasing attentiveness, such as pricking up one’s ears (å spisse ørene)

Relation to other terms: spisse is derived from spiss, meaning sharp or pointed, and shares semantic field with related concepts like shaping, honing, or making something more acute. It is primarily used in Norwegian and is a standard verb in both Bokmål and Nynorsk varieties.

See also:

- spiss, an adjective meaning sharp or pointed

- skjerpe, another Norwegian verb for sharpening in a broader sense

- ørene spisse, idiomatic expression about listening more closely

Overall, spisse is a straightforward, commonly used verb in Norwegian for both literal and figurative sharpening.