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enhance

[en-hans, -hahns]
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verb (used with object), en·hanced, en·hanc·ing.
  1. to raise to a higher degree; intensify; magnify: The candlelight enhanced her beauty.
  2. to raise the value or price of: Rarity enhances the worth of old coins.
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Origin of enhance

1325–75; Middle English enhauncen < Anglo-French enhauncer, apparently for Old French enhaucer, equivalent to en- en-1 + haucer “to raise” (French hausser) from the unattested Vulgar Latin altiāre (derivative of Latin altus “high,” with h- < Germanic; see haughty), though -n- is unexplained
Related formsen·hance·ment, nounen·hanc·ive, adjectiveself-en·hance·ment, nounun·en·hanced, adjective

Synonym study

2. See elevate.

Antonyms

1. diminish. 2. reduce.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for enhance

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • But to be constant in a virtue is not to enhance its quality.

    The Lyric

    John Drinkwater

  • At any rate, he scours the wide world to find what may enhance the value of his soul's delight.

  • Cork is the Isle of Saints—with a port and a garrison to enhance its sanctity.

    Ireland as It Is

    Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

  • Universities must enhance the use, the joy, the worth of existence.

    College Teaching

    Paul Klapper

  • If anything could enhance the pleasure of this piece of fortune, it is this fact.

British Dictionary definitions for enhance

enhance

verb
  1. (tr) to intensify or increase in quality, value, power, etc; improve; augment
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Derived Formsenhancement, nounenhancer, nounenhancive, adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Old French enhaucier, from en- 1 + haucier to raise, from Vulgar Latin altiāre (unattested), from Latin altus high
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 enhance

v.

late 13c., anhaunsen "to raise, make higher," from Anglo-French enhauncer, probably from Old French enhaucier "make greater, make higher or louder; fatten, foster; raise in esteem," from Vulgar Latin *inaltiare, from Late Latin inaltare "raise, exalt," from altare "make high," from altus "high" (see old).

Meaning "raise in station, wealth, or fame" attested in English from c.1300. The -h- in Old French supposedly from influence of Frankish *hoh "high." Related: Enhanced; enhancing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper