1550s (intransitive), from sweet (adj.) + verbal ending -en (1). Transitive sense ("become sweet") is from 1620s. The Middle English form of the verb was simply sweet, from Old English swetan. Related: Sweetened; sweetening.
sweeten a deal
sweet
Sweet Adeline
sweet tooth
sweetbread
sweet-briar
sweeten
sweetener
sweet-grass
sweetheart
sweetie
sweetly