meliorizev.
/ˈmiːlɪərʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈmiljəˌraɪz/, /ˈmiliəˌraɪz/ transitive. To make better; to improve. Also intransitive: †to grow better (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [verb (transitive)]
beetc975
betterOE
goodOE
sharpa1100
amendc1300
enhance1526
meliorate1542
embetter1568
endeara1586
enrich1598
meliorize1598
mend1603
sweeten1607
improve1617
to work up1641
ameliorate1653
solace1667
fine1683
ragout1749
to make something of1778
richen1795
transcendentalize1846
to tone up1847
to do something (also things) for (also to)1880
rich1912
to step up1920
uprate1965
up1968
nice1993
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [verb (intransitive)] > improve or grow better
betterOE
goodOE
risec1175
mend1546
meliorize1598
to mend one's hand1611
improve1642
meliorate1655
brighten1659
ameliorate1728
to look up1806
to tone up1881
raise1898
graduate1916
to shape up1938
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. *v I desire that they woulde vouchsafe to meliorize the same.
1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 115/1 Till shee beginne to miliorise [sic], and waxe lesse.
1689 E. Taylor Poems (1960) 57 Finde the Sight me not to meliorize, O Stupid Heart!
1954 Amer. Econ. Rev. 44 33 He has restricted the supply of coal in such a way as to maximize or at least meliorize the profits of the industry.
1962 Ann. Math. Statistics 33 8 Optimizing a simple or easy problem is not as worthwhile as meliorizing a more complex or difficult one.
1990 S. J. Mithen Thoughtful Foragers vi. 178 Trying to meliorise their hunting efficiency.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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