Aggrandizement
/əˈɡræn.daɪz.mənt/noun
The act of making or becoming greater in power, rank, importance, or wealth.
Did you know?Aggrandizement comes through French from Latin roots meaning “to make larger,” and its eerie cousin grandis also feeds words like grandeur and grandiose, all orbiting the ancient idea of greatness.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
grandis
“large, great”
Late Latin
Latin
aggrandire
“to make larger or more important”
Old French
Old French
aggrandir
“to enlarge, increase, magnify”
16th Century
English
aggrandize
“to make greater in power, rank, or wealth”
17th Century
English
aggrandizement
“the act of aggrandizing; enlargement or elevation in status”
Modern English
English
aggrandizement
“the act of making or becoming greater in power, rank, importance, or wealth”