greaten

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹeɪtə̆n/

Verb

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.
   • Ken

     A favourite's business is to please his king, a minister's to greaten and exalt him.

   • Elizabeth Barrett Browning

     No blushes! all my body's blood / Has gone to greaten this poor heart, / That, loving, we may part.

Antonyms

• decrease, lessen

See also

• engreaten

Anagrams

• grantee, negater, reagent, rentage, reägent