greaten

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English gretnen (to become great, be pregnant), equivalent to great +‎ -en.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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greaten (third-person singular simple present greatens, present participle greatening, simple past and past participle greatened)

  1. (intransitive) To become great or large; increase; dilate.
  2. (intransitive, obsolete) To become great with child; become pregnant.
  3. (transitive) To make great; magnify; enlarge; increase.
    • 1685, Thomas Ken, sermon preached [] at Whitehall:
      one studies how how to please his prince, the other how to greaten and secure him.
    • 1860, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Parting Lovers:
      No blushes! all my body's blood / Has gone to greaten this poor heart, / That, loving, we may part.

Antonyms

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See also

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Anagrams

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