aggrandize

Where does the word "aggrandize" come from? It comes from Latin grandis, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Aggrandize’s story begins in Latin: grandis meant “large, great.” Large, great, combined with ad- (to). By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as agrandir. To make greater, from ad- and grandis. It reached English by 1600s as aggrandize. First recorded in 1634 in the travel writer Thomas Herbert; the extra 'g' was added in English to match Latin-style 'ag-' words. Today, aggrandize means to increase someone's power, status, or reputation, often beyond what is warranted.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient grandis "large, great", large, great, combined with ad- (to).
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval agrandir "to make greater", to make greater, from ad- and grandis.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s aggrandize "to increase someone's power, status, or reputation", first recorded in 1634 in the travel writer Thomas Herbert; the extra 'g' was added in English to match Latin-style 'ag-' words.