Upraises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To lift or elevate something to a higher position or level
2. To increase in a vertical direction or height
3. To promote or enhance the status or importance of someone or something

Etymology: "Upraises" is the third-person singular present form of "upraise," a verb built from the prefix "up-" and the verb "raise." Both parts are old English material: "raise" comes from Old Norse "reisa," which is related to the English verb "rise," and the prefix "up-" simply adds the sense of upward movement. Together they give a plainly literal compound, meaning to lift or rise upward. The verb itself is an unremarkable formation, so its interest lies mainly in how the parts fit together. "Raise" is a causative of "rise," meaning it turns the intransitive idea of rising into an action done to something else, while "up-" reinforces the vertical direction already present. Compounds of this kind are common in English, which often doubles up a directional idea for emphasis.

Synonyms: raises, elevates, lifts, hoists, boosts

Antonyms: lowers, drops, decreases, diminishes, falls