biggenv.
/ˈbɪɡ(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈbɪɡ(ə)n/ Now rare.
1. transitive. To make big; to increase, enlarge; to strengthen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)]
broada1250
room?1316
enlargec1380
largea1382
magnifya1382
alargec1384
spreada1387
amplify1432
brede1440
expanse1477
ampliatea1513
dilate1528
propagate1548
widen1566
explicate1578
expatiate1603
diduce1605
engross?1611
dilatate1613
biggen1643
promote1652
intend1658
expand1665
to run out1683
amplificate1731
broaden1744
outstretcha1758
largen1869
big1884
1643 A. Tuckney Balme of Gilead 35 Our sinnes..are very great, and if circumstances can biggen them, of the largest size.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 185 Those things feed and biggen us.
1854 M. L. Charlesworth Ministering Children ii. 22 I can biggen them a bit when they get too small.
1895 Overland Monthly Aug. 194/2 The experience you will have with me will widen, not contract, your point of view. It will biggen you, if I may be permitted to coin the word.
1955 Amer. Speech 30 130 ‘Look’, said the small fry. ‘You can biggen it up and smallen it down’.
2. intransitive. To become big; to increase in size or strength.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)]
greateOE
grow1382
enlarge1481
to gain more feathers1600
spread1611
burnish1624
sizea1631
dilate1636
greaten1638
expatiate1650
widen1650
biggen1652
expand1791
magnify1814
1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved ix. 53 All waters biggen the further they run.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 127 Some bigning or growing.
1701 R. Steele Christian Hero (1711) 45 His great heart..rose and biggened in proportion to any growing danger that threatened him.
1722 W. Hamilton Life of Sir William Wallace ii. vi. ii. 118 His Heart biggens with the glorious Scene.
1762 Biogr. Dict. VII. 150 Jovius, however, did not let his spirits sink under this misfortune; on the contrary, his soul seems to have biggened thereby.
1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd II. v. vii. 174 My heart biggened in my bosom.
1866 Harper's Mag. Dec. 51/2 Throughout the day Frank was as busy as a bee in his scented bower, and the roll of bills in his vest pocket biggened and bettered.
1957 R. Lattimore Poems 91 Photos. Here's a face. The eyes biggen.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > childbirth or delivery > recovery after
footing1566
'biggening1673
footing time1673
1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 6 I wish you a good biggening.
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Biggenning, the Up-rising of Women after Child-Birth. Country Word.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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