aggrandize

aggrandize
transitive verb (-dized; -dizing) Etymology: French agrandiss-, stem of agrandir, from a- (from Latin ad-) + grandir to increase, from Latin grandire, from grandis great Date: 1634 1. to make great or greater ; increase, enlarge <
aggrandize an estate
>
2. to make appear great or greater ; praise highly 3. to enhance the power, wealth, position, or reputation of <
exploited the situation to aggrandize himself
>
aggrandizement nounaggrandizer noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Aggrandize — Ag gran*dize, v. i. To increase or become great. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Follies, continued till old age, do aggrandize. J. Hall. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Aggrandize — Ag gran*dize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Aggrandized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Aggrandizing}.] [F. agrandir; [ a] (L. ad) + grandir to increase, L. grandire, fr. grandis great. See {Grand}, and cf. {Finish}.] 1. To make great; to enlarge; to increase; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • aggrandize — index accrue (increase), accumulate (enlarge), bear (yield), build (augment), compound …   Law dictionary

  • aggrandize — (v.) 1630s, to make larger, increase, from Fr. agrandiss , prp. stem of agrandir to augment (16c.), ultimately from L. ad to (see AD (Cf. ad )) + grandire to make great, from grandis (see GRAND (Cf. grand)). The double g …   Etymology dictionary

  • aggrandize — (Amer.) ag·gran·dize || É™ grændaɪz v. make bigger, make larger; widen; extend; increase the power or status of; increase the wealth of; intensify or exaggerate the reputation of someone in an artificial manner; make something look greater;… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • aggrandize — *exalt, magnify Analogous words: heighten, enhance, aggravate, *intensify: elevate, raise, *lift, boost Antonyms: belittle Contrasted words: minimize, depreciate, disparage, *decry, detract, derogate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • aggrandize — [v] cause something to seem or be greater, bigger acclaim, applaud, augment, beef up*, boost, commend, dignify, distinguish, enlarge, ennoble, expand, extend, glorify, heighten, hike, hike up*, honor, hype, increase, intensify, jack up*, jump,… …   New thesaurus

  • aggrandize — (also aggrandise) ► VERB 1) increase the power, status, or wealth of. 2) artificially enhance the reputation of. DERIVATIVES aggrandizement noun. ORIGIN French agrandir, from Latin grandis large …   English terms dictionary

  • aggrandize — [ə gran′dīz΄; ] also [, ag′rəndīz΄] vt. aggrandized, aggrandizing [< extended stem of Fr agrandir, to augment < a , to + grandir, to increase < L grandire < grandis, great] 1. to make greater, more powerful, richer, etc.: often used… …   English World dictionary

  • aggrandize — [[t]əgræ̱ndaɪz[/t]] aggrandizes, aggrandizing, aggrandized VERB (disapproval) To aggrandize someone means to make them seem richer, more powerful, and more important than they really are. To aggrandize a building means to make it more impressive …   English dictionary

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