ennoblev.
/ɛˈnəʊb(ə)l/ transitive.† 4. To render famous or illustrious. Obsolete.
1. To give the rank of nobleman to (a person).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > raising to noble rank > ennoble [verb (transitive)]
i-atheliea1000
ennoblish1483
nobilitate?c1500
ennoble1597
ennoblize1598
noblify1600
gentlemanize1784
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. iii. 81 To enoble those That scarce some two daies since were worth a noble. View more context for this quotation
a1638 J. Mede On Deut. xxxiii. 8, in Wks. i. 179 Levi was enobled..specially as being of kin to Moses the Prince of the Congregation.
1791 Gentleman's Mag. 61 1105 His [Columbus'] family was ennobled.
1813 H. Smith & J. Smith Horace in London ii. iv. 122 Virtue builds herself a throne, Ennobling whom she touches.
1845 Ld. Campbell Lives Chancellors II. xxxviii. 12 Most of the Executors..ennobled themselves, or took a step in the Peerage.
2. To impart nobility to (a person or thing). Formerly also, to attribute nobility to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > majesty, glory, or grandeur > exaltation or glorification > exalt or glorify [verb (transitive)] > impart nobility to
noblec1380
transfigurec1380
nobley?a1439
noblish1483
ennoble1502
gentle1532
nobilitate1542
ennoblize1598
ennoblishc1600
sublimate1601
greaten1627
exalt1711
annoblize1731
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. iv. sig. e.i Enryched & ennobled with holy mysteryes.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. O2v The more to innoble, and set foorth the excellencie of this honorable calling of a bishop.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. iii. 173 She..so ennobled, Is as 'twere borne so. View more context for this quotation
1647 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal Sixteen Satyrs 149 Cicero innobled the meannesse of his birth.
1838 R. W. Emerson Addr. Divinity Coll. 6 He who does a good deed, is instantly ennobled himself.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §1. 451 The meanest peasant felt himself ennobled as a child of God.
3. To impart a higher character to (a person or thing); to dignify, elevate, refine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [verb (transitive)] > purify or refine
slick1340
filec1400
polishc1400
burnish1526
polite1535
extirpate1548
purify1548
soften1579
purgea1582
refine1592
mellow1593
civilize1596
rarefy1600
incivilize1603
sublimate1624
alembicate1627
chastise1627
sublime1631
calcine1635
gentilize1635
ennoble1636
subtilize1638
deconcoct1655
sublimizea1729
smooth1762
absterge1817
decrassify1855
sandpaper1890
1636 E. Dacres tr. N. Machiavel Disc. Livy II. 511 Mens hands and tongues two of their worthiest instruments to ennoble them.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 992 Much won that he his Love Had so enobl'd . View more context for this quotation
1713 G. Berkeley in Guardian 1 June 2/1 The Christian Religion ennobleth and enlargeth the Mind.
1785 W. Cowper Task v. 603 The loss of all That can enoble man.
1825 in W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 441 These palaces..[are] now ennobled into a refuge.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles i. 114 Christ..ennobling all that He touches.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > making famous > make famous or celebrate [verb (transitive)]
enluminec1386
famea1400
bruitc1487
renowna1500
celebrate1522
specifya1525
illustrate1530
illustre1530
resoundc1550
blaze1552
blazon1553
ennoble1565
repeat1582
famose1590
famous1590
royalize1590
emblazon1592
emblaze1596
concelebrate1599
blazonize1614
laurizea1618
lustre1627
befame1669
sound1711
belion1837
lionize1837
1565 A. Golding tr. Caesar Martiall Exploytes in Gallia viii. f. 266v Surus a Heduan a man both for manhod and for birth greatlye ennobled.
a1626 F. Bacon Considerations War with Spain in Wks. (1874) XIV. 489 The Spaniards..ennobled some of the coasts thereof with shipwrecks.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. x. 407 Tho' the place..were enobled with the martyrdoms of a 1000 Christians.
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey V. xxii. 313 Bear Thy death, ennobled by Ulysses' spear.
1775 J. Adair Hist. Amer. Indians 378 They have..enobled themselves by war actions.
5. Of light: To render conspicuous. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be or make visible [verb (transitive)] > make distinct > make conspicuous
ennoble1665
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. v. iv. sig. Kk6 The light that ennobles him, tempts Inquisitive Men to keep him..from sleeping.
1667 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities (ed. 2) Stiriæ, that enoble the darker Body.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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