Greaten

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make something larger or more significant in size, degree, or importance; to enhance or elevate the quality or value of something; to increase the magnitude or scope of an object or idea in a substantial way
2. To bring about an enlargement or improvement in dimensions, impact, or worth; to augment the characteristics or qualities of something; to amplify the extent or relevance of a concept or entity
3. To cause a rise in the size or prominence of a person, object, or notion; to boost the effectiveness or merit of something; to broaden the range or influence of an aspect or matter

Etymology: "Greaten" is a plain formation: the adjective "great" with the verb-forming suffix "-en," the same ending found in "widen," "sharpen," and "lengthen." Its source is Middle English "gretnen," which meant "to become great," and it could also mean "to be pregnant," a sense that grew from the idea of a body becoming larger. The word's ancestry therefore runs through the native English adjective "great," so it is an inherited English formation rather than a borrowing from Latin or French. Its core sense has stayed close to its origin: to make something grow in size, scale, or importance. The modern meaning "make more important" is the same idea applied to status rather than physical bulk.

Synonyms: enlarge, expand, increase, amplify, magnify

Antonyms: shrink, reduce, lessen, diminish, decrease