enlarge etymology

Etymology

  • Old French: enlarger "to make larger, widen"
  • Late Latin: en + largus "broad, spacious"
  • Indo-European root: *lengʷh- "to be long" (related to "long")

Meaning

  • To make or become larger in size, extent, or quantity
  • To expand or widen
  • To increase or intensify
  • To reproduce on a larger scale
  • To magnify or exaggerate

Origin

The word "enlarge" comes from the Old French enlarger, meaning "to make larger, widen." The Old French word is derived from the Late Latin en + largus, meaning "broad, spacious." The Late Latin word largus is derived from the Indo-European root *lengʷh-, meaning "to be long."

The word "enlarge" entered English in the 14th century. It has been used consistently since then to mean "to make or become larger."

enlarge relate terms

  • large

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  • enlargement

    Etymology Old French enlargir to enlarge make wider Latin inlargare to make wi

  • enlarge

    Etymology Old French enlarger to make larger widen Late Latin en largus broad s

  • ensure

    Etymology The word ensure comes from the Old French word en seür which means to m

  • insure

    Etymology Middle English assurer Anglo French asseurer Old French asseürer Late Lat

  • contract

    Etymology The word contract comes from the Latin word contractus which means drawn

  • magnify

    Etymology Latin magnus great French magnifier to enlarge Meaning To incr

  • expand

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  • ream

    Etymology The word ream has multiple etymological origins Middle Dutch riem mean

  • amplification

    Etymology and Meaning Amplification comes from the Latin word amplificare meaning to

  • enrich

    Etymology The word enrich is derived from the Middle French word enricher which in

  • increase

    Etymology The word increase comes from the Old French word encroistre which is deriv

  • amplify

    Amplify Etymology The word amplify comes from the Latin word amplificare which mean

  • specify

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  • instance

    Etymology The word instance comes from the Latin word instantia which means insist