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augment - 7 dictionary results

aug⋅ment

  [v. awg-ment; n. awg-ment]
Use augment in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
2. Music.
a. to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
b. to double the note values of (a theme): In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
3. Grammar. to add an augment to.
4. Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).
–verb (used without object)
5. to become larger.
–noun
6. Grammar. a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME au(g)menten < AF, MF au(g)menter < LL augmentāre to increase, deriv. of augmentum an increase (aug(ēre) to increase (akin to eke ) + -mentum -ment ) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re inf. ending

Related forms:
aug⋅ment⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. swell. See increase. 5. increase.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To augment
aug·ment   (ôg-měnt')   
v.   aug·ment·ed, aug·ment·ing, aug·ments

v.   tr.
  1. To make (something already developed or well under way) greater, as in size, extent, or quantity: Continuing rains augmented the floodwaters.
  2. Linguistics To add an augment to.
v.   intr.
To become augmented. See Synonyms at increase.
n.   (ôg'měnt')
Linguistics The prefixation of a vowel accompanying a past tense, especially of Greek and Sanskrit verbs.

[Middle English augmenten, from Old French augmenter, from Late Latin augmentāre, from Latin augmentum, an increase, from augēre, to increase; see aug- in Indo-European roots.]
aug·ment'a·ble adj., aug·ment'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Augment

Aug*ment"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Augmented; p. pr. & vb. n. Augmenting.] [L. augmentare, fr. augmentum an increase, fr. augere to increase; perh. akin to Gr. ?, ?, E. wax, v., and eke, v.: cf. F. augmenter.]

1. To enlarge or increase in size, amount, or degree; to swell; to make bigger; as, to augment an army by re["e]forcements; rain augments a stream; impatience augments an evil.

But their spite still serves His glory to augment. --Milton.

2. (Gram.) To add an augment to.

Augment

Aug*ment"\, v. i. To increase; to grow larger, stronger, or more intense; as, a stream augments by rain.

Augment

Aug"ment\, n. [L. augmentum: cf. F. augment.]

1. Enlargement by addition; increase.

2. (Gram.) A vowel prefixed, or a lengthening of the initial vowel, to mark past time, as in Greek and Sanskrit verbs.

Note: In Greek, the syllabic augment is a prefixed ?, forming an intial syllable; the temporal augment is an increase of the quantity (time) of an initial vowel, as by changing ? to ?.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : augment
Spanish: aumentar,
German: vermehren,
Japanese: 増す
More Translations »

augment 
c.1400, from O.Fr. augmenter, from L.L. augmentare "to increase," from L. augmentum "an increase," from augere "to increase, make big, enlarge, enrich," from PIE base *aug- "to increase" (cf. Skt. ojas- "strength," Lith. augu "to grow," aukstas "high, of superior rank;" Gk. auxo "increase," Goth. aukan "to grow, increase," O.E. eacien "to increase").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: aug·ment
Pronunciation: og-'ment, 'og-"ment
Function: transitive verb
: to increase in size, amount, degree, or severity augmented by hyperthyroidism —C. H. Thienes>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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