augment

[verb awg-ment; noun awg-ment]

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verb (used with object)

to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
Music.
1. to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
2. to double the note values of (a theme): In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
Grammar. to add an augment to.

Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).

verb (used without object)

to become larger.

noun

Grammar. a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.

Origin of augment

1375–1425; late Middle English au(g)menten < Anglo-French, Middle French au(g)menter < Late Latin augmentāre to increase, derivative of augmentum an increase (aug(ēre) to increase (akin to eke¹) + -mentum -ment) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive ending

Related formsaug·ment·a·ble, adjectiveun·aug·ment·a·ble, adjectiveun·aug·ment·ed, adjective

Synonyms for augment

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1. swell. See increase. 5. increase.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for augmenting

develop, strengthen, intensify, enlarge, multiply, reinforce, heighten, enhance, inflate, boost, expand, amplify, raise, extend, swell, magnify, mount, increase, sweeten, pad

Examples from the Web for augmenting

Contemporary Examples of augmenting

For most Americans, Social Security isn't augmenting private saving; private saving is (just barely) augmenting Social Security.
Why Not Make Social Security Benefits Even More Generous
Megan McArdle
March 8, 2013
Today, Krugman weighs in, augmenting a point I made and then making yet another point.
More on Obama and Reagan
Michael Tomasky
June 8, 2012

Historical Examples of augmenting

In fact, he found his anger receding rather than augmenting.
One Day's Courtship
Robert Barr
This thought instead of augmenting her distress seemed to soothe her.
The Rescue
Joseph Conrad
Others, more reverent, suffer the agony of augmenting shines.
A Book of Burlesques
H. L. Mencken
All this time her own little fortune could be augmenting, interest on interest.
A Little Girl in Old Boston
Amanda Millie Douglas
Now the augmenting mists had shut off all the rest of the world.
The Best Short Stories of 1919
Various

British Dictionary definitions for augmenting

augment

verb (ɔːɡˈmɛnt)

to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase
(tr) music to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitoneCompare diminish (def. 3)
(tr) (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) to prefix a vowel or diphthong to (a verb) to form a past tense

noun (ˈɔːɡmɛnt)

(in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) a vowel or diphthong prefixed to a verb to form a past tense

Derived Formsaugmentable, adjectiveaugmentor or augmenter, noun

Word Origin for augment

C15: from Late Latin augmentāre to increase, from augmentum growth, from Latin augēre to increase

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for augmenting

augment

c.1400, from Old French augmenter "increase, enhance" (14c.), from Late Latin augmentare "to increase," from Latin augmentum "an increase," from augere "to increase, make big, enlarge, enrich," from PIE root *aug- "to increase" (cf. Sanskrit ojas- "strength;" Lithuanian augu "to grow," aukstas "high, of superior rank;" Greek auxo "increase," auxein "to increase;" Gothic aukan "to grow, increase;" Old English eacien "to increase"). Related: Augmented; augmenting. As a noun from early 15c.