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| v. an·nealed, an·neal·ing, an·neals v. tr. 1. To subject (glass or metal) to a process of heating and slow cooling in order to toughen, reduce brittleness, or enhance adhesion. 2. To strengthen or harden. v. intr. To become strengthened or hardened: “the time she needed for opinion to anneal around her policy” (Alexander M. Haig, Jr.). [Middle English anelen, from Old English onǣlan, to set fire to : on, on; see ON + ǣlan, to kindle.] |
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