case-harden

British  

verb

1. metallurgy to form a hard surface layer of high carbon content on (a steel component) by heating in a carburizing environment with subsequent quenching or heat treatment

2. to harden the spirit or disposition of; make callous

   experience had case-hardened the judge

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Example Sentences

You have not been long enough in India to case-harden into the cursed egotism of this hard-hearted land, and remember, age, crawling on, has indurated old 'Fraser-Johnstone.'

From A Fascinating Traitor An Anglo-Indian Story by Savage, Richard

Many woods, however, check severely in air-drying or case-harden in the air.

From Seasoning of Wood by Wagner, J. B. (Joseph Bernard)

But time and earth case-harden us to live; the feeblest sense is trusted most: the child feels God a moment, ichors o'er the place, plays on and grows to be a man like us.

From An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry by Corson, Hiram