v. [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).
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 7 (T.). The devil has infused prodigious idolatry into their hearts, enough to relish his palate and aggrandize their tortures.
1656. Earl Monm., Advt. fr. Parnass., 48. Making use of the calamities of others, as an instrument thereby to agrandize his authority.
1748. Anson, Voy., I. viii. (ed. 4), 110. That no circumstance might be wanting which could aggrandize our distress.
1855. Bain, Senses & Intell., III. ii. § 11. The whole soul, passing into one sense, aggrandizes that sense and starves the rest.
1868. Ruskin, 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.
1682. Burnet, Rights of Princes, Pref. 3. For the aggrandizing or maintaining his nephews and kindred.
1780. W. Coxe, Russ. Discov., 22. Every circumstance which contributes to aggrandize the Russian empire.
1800. Wellington, in Gen. Desp., I. 207. If we aggrandize ourselves at the expense of the Mahrattas.
1872. Yeats, 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.
1687. Death’s Vis. (1713), Pref. 2. ’Tis pleaded, that Religion aggrandizes a Poem.
1775. T. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. 53. Nothing could aggrandise Fingal’s heroism more highly.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Pope, Wks. 1787, IV. 119. The ship-race, compared with the chariot-race, is neither illustrated nor aggrandised.
1848. H. 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.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), III. xviii. 161. Your pretty imagination is always at work to aggrandize the man, and to lower the babies.
1823. Lamb, 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.
1646. Hall, Poems, 8. Follies continued till old age, do aggrandize and become horrid.
1704. Lond. Gaz., mmmmlxxiv/2. Could not but with Horrour see him aggrandize in Power.
