aggrandize

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ag=gran=dize

CIDE DICTIONARY

aggrandize, v. t. [F. agrandir; à (L. ad) + grandir to increase, L. grandire, fr. grandis great. See Grand, and cf. Finish.].

•  To make great; to enlarge; to increase; as, to aggrandize our conceptions, authority, distress.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make great or greater in power, rank, honor, or wealth; -- applied to persons, countries, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "His scheme for aggrandizing his son."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make appear great or greater; to exalt.  Lamb.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To augment; exalt; promote; advance.

aggrandize, v. i. 

 To increase or become great.  [1913 Webster]
"Follies, continued till old age, do aggrandize."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

aggrandize, v.tr. (also -ise)
1 increase the power, rank, or wealth of (a person or State).
2 cause to appear greater than is the case.

Derivative

aggrandizement n. aggrandizer n.

Etymology

F agrandir (stem agrandiss-), prob. f. It. aggrandire f. L grandis large: assim. to verbs in -IZE

THESAURUS

aggrandize

add to, advance, amplify, apotheose, apotheosize, augment, ballyhoo, beatify, beef up, bloat, blow up, boost, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, burlesque, canonize, caricature, carry too far, crescendo, crown, deify, develop, dignify, dilate, distend, distinguish, draw the longbow, elevate, enlarge, ennoble, enshrine, enthrone, erect, exaggerate, exalt, expand, extend, fatten, fill out, glamorize, glorify, go to extremes, graduate, heighten, hike, hike up, honor, huff, hyperbolize, immortalize, increase, inflate, jack up, jump up, kick upstairs, knight, lay it on, lengthen, lionize, magnify, make legendary, make much of, maximize, multiply, overcharge, overdo, overdraw, overestimate, overpraise, overreach, overreact, oversell, overspeak, overstate, overstress, parlay, pass, pile it on, prefer, promote, puff, puff up, pump, pump up, put up, pyramid, raise, rarefy, saint, sanctify, set up, stretch, stretch the truth, sublime, sufflate, swell, talk big, talk in superlatives, thicken, throne, tout, travesty, up, upgrade, uplift, uprear, widen

ROGET THESAURUS

aggrandize

Increase

VB increase, augment, add to, enlarge, dilate, grow, wax, get ahead, gain strength, advance, run up, shoot up, rise, ascend, sprout, aggrandize, raise, exalt, deepen, heighten, strengthen, intensify, enhance, magnify, redouble, aggravate, exaggerate, exasperate, exacerbate, add fuel to the flame, oleum addere camino, superadd, spread.

Expansion

VB become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten.

Repute

VB be conscious of glory, be proud of, exult, be vain of, be distinguished, shine, shine forth, figure, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, rival, surpass, outshine, outrival, outvie, outjump, emulate, eclipse, throw into the shade, cast into the shade, overshadow, live, flourish, glitter, flaunt, gain honor, acquire honor, play first fiddle, bear the palm, bear the bell, lead the way, take precedence, take the wall of, gain laurels, win laurels, gain spurs, gain golden opinions, take one's degree, pass one's examination, make a noise, make some noise, make a noise in the world, leave one's mark, exalt one's horn, blow one's horn, star it, have a run, be run after, come into vogue, come to the front, raise one's head, enthrone, signalize, immortalize, deify, exalt to the skies, hand one's name down to posterity, consecrate, dedicate to, devote to, enshrine, inscribe, blazon, lionize, blow the trumpet, crown with laurel, confer honor on, reflect honor on, shed a luster on, redound, to one's honor, ennoble, give honor to, do honor to, pay honor to, render honor to, honor, accredit, pay regard to, dignify, glorify, sing praises to, lock up to, exalt, aggrandize, elevate, nobilitate.