| 释义 |
aggrandize, v.|ˈægrændaɪz|
[f. Fr. agrandiss- extended stem of agrand-ir (16th c. aggr-), prob. ad. It. aggrandire; f. ag- = ad- to + grandire, L. grandīre to make great; f. grandis large. The ending is assimilated to words of Gr. origin with -ize.]
1. trans. To enlarge, increase, magnify, or intensify (a thing).
1634T. Herbert Trav. 7 (T.) The devil has infused prodigious idolatry into their hearts, enough to relish his palate and aggrandize their tortures. 1656Earl of Monmouth Advt. fr. Parnass. 48 Making use of the calamities of others, as an instrument thereby to agrandize his authority. 1748Anson Voy. i. viii. (ed. 4) 110 That no circumstance might be wanting which could aggrandize our distress. 1855Bain Senses & Intell. iii. ii. §11 The whole soul, passing into one sense, aggrandizes that sense and starves the rest. 1868Ruskin Pol. Econ. Art i. 80 The selfish and tyrannous means they commonly take to aggrandize or secure their power.
2. To increase the power, rank, or wealth of (a person or a state). Often refl.
1682Burnet Rights of Princes Pref. 3 For the aggrandizing or maintaining his nephews and kindred. 1780W. Coxe Russ. Discov. 22 Every circumstance which contributes to aggrandize the Russian empire. 1800Wellington in Gen. Desp. I. 207 If we aggrandize ourselves at the expense of the Mahrattas. 1872Yeats Growth & Viciss. Comm. 96 Venice was aggrandised by this traffic.
3. To make (a thing) appear greater; to give a character of grandeur to; to embellish, exaggerate.
1687Death's Vis. (1713) Pref. 2 'Tis pleaded, that Religion aggrandizes a Poem. 1775T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. 53 Nothing could aggrandise Fingal's heroism more highly. 1779Johnson L.P., Pope Wks. 1787 IV. 119 The ship-race, compared with the chariot-race, is neither illustrated nor aggrandised. 1848H. Miller First Impr. ix. (1857) 144 The scene, though small, is yet aggrandized with much art.
4. To make (a person) appear greater; to exalt.
1753Richardson Grandison (1781) III. xviii. 161 Your pretty imagination is always at work to aggrandize the man, and to lower the babies. 1823Lamb Elia Ser. ii. xxiv. (1865) 433 The first thing to aggrandise a man in his own conceit, is to conceive of himself as neglected.
†5. intr. To become greater; to increase. Obs. Cf. Fr. s'agrandir.
1646Hall Poems 8 Follies continued till old age, do aggrandize and become horrid. 1704Lond. Gaz. mmmmlxxiv/2 Could not but with Horrour see him aggrandize in Power. |