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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

Related Words

upgraderaiseaugmentstrengthenintensifycomplementappreciateenlargeincreasereinforceheightenboostaggrandizepyramidmagnifyexaltswellexaggerateelevatebeautify

Examples from the Web for enhanced

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • In the silvery moonlight all the fairy, flower-like quality of her was enhanced.

    Dust

    Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

  • The grim reality of the one had enhanced the importance of the other.

    Roden's Corner

    Henry Seton Merriman

  • The sincerity of the religious feeling is enhanced by its simplicity.

    Mountain Meditations

    L. Lind-af-Hageby

  • The sense of the meaning and value of human life is enhanced.

    College Teaching

    Paul Klapper

  • He knew she did not expect to need an enhanced complexion in this obscurity.

    The Prisoner

    Alice Brown

British Dictionary definitions for enhanced

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 enhanced

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