Etymology Map
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Exaggerate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to represent as greater than it is

Where does the word "exaggerate" come from? It comes from Latin exaggerare, adopted directly into English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
exaggerare
Latin · ancient
"to heap up"
'ex-' plus 'agger', heap
2
Stage 2 of 2
exaggerate
English · 1530s
"to heap up"
the sense 'overstate' dates from the 1560s
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Read the full story

Exaggerate’s story begins in Latin: exaggerare meant “to heap up.” 'ex-' plus 'agger', heap. It reached English by 1530s as exaggerate. The sense 'overstate' dates from the 1560s. Today, exaggerate means to represent as greater than it is.