Aggrandizement

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈɡrændɪzmənt/

Definitions

1. The action of expanding one's power, wealth, or influence involves elevating the perceived importance or status of an individual or entity
2. An effort to amplify the stature, influence, or financial position of a person or group reflects ambitions for greater recognition or resources
3. The process of making oneself or something seem more powerful or important than before

Etymology: Aggrandizement is a case where the English word is a late, deliberate borrowing of a French term, and the French term itself grew from a common verb meaning "to make larger." The verb "aggrandize" was formed from French "agrandir," which means "to enlarge" or "to make bigger," built from "a-" (toward) and "grand" (large), the same Latin-derived adjective behind English "grand." Adding the French-derived suffix "-ment," which turns a verb into a noun of process or result, produced "agrandissement," the act or state of becoming larger. English took the verb and noun together, so the sense of "making larger" carried over quickly. The idea of growing in power, rank or importance is the extension that dominates modern use: a ruler's territorial expansion, or a person's bid to inflate their own standing, both count as aggrandizement. The literal sense of physical enlargement has largely faded into the background.

Synonyms: expansion, enhancement, increase, magnification, amplification

Antonyms: reduction, diminution, decrease, contraction, loss