magnify

magnify
magnify (v.) late 14c., "to speak or act for the glory or honor (of someone or something)," from O.Fr. magnefiier "glorify, magnify," from L. magnificare "esteem greatly, extol, make much of," from magnificus "great, elevated, noble" (see MAGNIFICENCE (Cf. magnificence)). Meaning "use a telescope or microscope" is first attested 1660s, said to be a unique development in English. Related: Magnified; magnifying.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Magnify — Mag ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Magnified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Magnifying}.] [OE. magnifien, F. magnifier, L. magnificare. See {Magnific}.] 1. To make great, or greater; to increase the dimensions of; to amplify; to enlarge, either in fact or in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magnify — Mag ni*fy, v. i. 1. To have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they really are; to increase the apparent dimensions of objects; as, some lenses magnify but little. [1913 Webster] 2. To have effect; to be of importance or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • magnify — [v1] enlarge, intensify aggrandize, aggravate, amplify, augment, bless, blow up, boost, build up, deepen, dignify, dilate, distend, enhance, ennoble, eulogize, exalt, expand, extend, glorify, heighten, hike, hike up, increase, inflate, intensate …   New thesaurus

  • magnify — [mag′nə fī΄] vt. magnified, magnifying [ME magnifien < OFr magnifier < L magnificare, to make much of, esteem highly, LL(Ec), to worship < magnus, great (see MAGNI ) + facere, to make, DO1] 1. Rare to make greater in size, status, or… …   English World dictionary

  • magnify — I verb add to, aggrandize, amplificare, amplify, augere, augment, balloon, boost, broaden, build up, cause growth, deepen, emphasize, enhance, enlarge, exaggerare, exaggerate, exalt, expand, extend, glorify, heighten, idealize, increase, increase …   Law dictionary

  • magnify — *exalt, aggrandize Analogous words: extol, *praise, laud, acclaim, eulogize: enlarge, increase, augment: *expand, amplify, distend, swell, inflate, dilate Antonyms: minimize, belittle Contrasted words: *decry, depreciate, detract, derogate:… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • magnify — ► VERB (magnifies, magnified) 1) make (something) appear larger than it is, especially with a lens or microscope. 2) intensify or exaggerate. 3) archaic extol; glorify. DERIVATIVES magnification noun magnifier noun …   English terms dictionary

  • magnify — [[t]mæ̱gnɪfaɪ[/t]] magnifies, magnifying, magnified 1) VERB To magnify an object means to make it appear larger than it really is, by means of a special lens or mirror. [V n n] This version of the Digges telescope magnifies images 11 times... [V… …   English dictionary

  • magnify — magnifiable, adj. /mag neuh fuy /, v., magnified, magnifying. v.t. 1. to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does. 2. to make greater in actual size; enlarge: to magnify a drawing in preparing for a fresco. 3. to cause to seem greater or… …   Universalium

  • magnify — UK [ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ] / US [ˈmæɡnəˌfaɪ] verb [transitive] Word forms magnify : present tense I/you/we/they magnify he/she/it magnifies present participle magnifying past tense magnified past participle magnified 1) a) to make something appear bigger… …   English dictionary

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