greaten
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Etymology
Origin of greaten
Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at great, -en 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yes; In thy confessions thou must greaten and aggravate thy sin by all just circumstances.
From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 02 by Bunyan, John
Which doth not therefore mitigate, but so much the more greaten, and make odious the offence.
From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 03 by Bunyan, John
Eternal God, I thank thee for all the sterling elements that greaten the individual life.
From Leaves of Life For Daily Inspiration by Steinmetz, Margaret Bird
Secondly, this ideal of Imperial Britain will greaten and exalt the action of the soldier, hallowing the death on the battlefield with the attributes at once of the hero and the martyr.
From The Origins and Destiny of Imperial Britain Nineteenth Century Europe by Cramb, J. A. (John Adam)
A name Whose fame 't were hard to greaten, and that lays On him who bears it a great obligation.
From Modern Italian Poets Essays and Versions by Howells, William Dean
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
