Magnify
/ˈmæɡ.nɪ.faɪ/noun
To make something appear larger than it is, especially through a lens or other optical device.
Did you know?The root of "magnify" comes from a term meaning 'great' or 'large', hinting at its association with grandeur and the distortion of reality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*magh-
“to be able, to have power”
Latin
Latin
magnificare
“to make great, to glorify”
Late Latin
Late Latin
magnificare
“to esteem highly, to amplify”
Old French
Old French
magnifier
“to enlarge, to exalt”
Middle English
Middle English
magnifien
“to make great, to extol”
Modern English
English
magnify
“to increase in size or importance, often with an emphasis on perception.”
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