Word of the Day - 10/06/25
aggrandize
/ə'grændaɪz/(v.): increase the power, status, or wealth of
The dictator sought to aggrandize his own family by granting them vast tracts of land and influential government positions.
(v.): enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond what is justified by the facts
Some biographers tend to aggrandize their subjects, overlooking flaws and exaggerating achievements to create a more heroic image.
Word Origin
The word 'aggrandize' originates from the French verb 'aggrandir', meaning 'to enlarge' or 'to make greater'. This in turn comes from the Latin 'ad-' meaning 'to' or 'toward' and 'grandire', which means 'to make large' or 'to make great', derived from the adjective 'grandis' meaning 'large' or 'great'. The '-ize' suffix is a common verb-forming suffix in English, adopted via Old French and Latin from Greek '-izein'.
Words with a similar Latin root 'grandis' include 'grand' itself (meaning large or impressive), 'grandeur' (magnificence or impressiveness, especially of appearance or style), and 'grandiloquent' (using high-sounding language, derived from 'grandis' and 'loqui' meaning 'to speak').