Ennoble

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪˈnəʊbəl/

Definitions

1. To elevate an individual’s social rank or character by bestowing noble qualities upon them
2. To elevate someone’s status or worthiness by granting them noble traits or qualities
3. To enhance an individual’s character or rank by associating them with nobility

Etymology: Ennoble comes from Middle English "ennoblen," borrowed from Old French "ennoblir," which combines the prefix "en-" (meaning "make" or "put into a state") with "noble." So the verb literally means "to make noble." The word "noble" itself came into English from Old French and descends from Latin "nobilis," meaning "known" or "famous," the same root that gave us "notable" and "notice." That etymology is the key to the verb's sense. Originally, to be noble was largely a matter of birth and rank, so to ennoble someone was to elevate them into the nobility, often by a grant or title from a monarch. Over time the sense widened from social rank to moral and spiritual qualities, so that an act, a purpose, or a suffering could also be described as ennobling, lifting the person who undertakes it.

Synonyms: elevate, exalt, honor

Antonyms: degrade, demean, humiliate