Ameliorate
/əˈmiːliəreɪt/noun
To make something better or improve it.
Did you know?Ameliorate was formed in French from a comparative idea meaning “betterer,” showing how Latin roots can be reshaped into a word of gradual improvement rather than sudden magic.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
melior
“better”
Late Latin
Latin
meliorare
“to make better”
16th Century
French
améliorer
“to improve, make better”
16th–17th Century
English
ameliorate
“to improve or make better”
Modern English
English
ameliorate
“to make something better or less severe”
Explore more surprising origins