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Enhance Has Latin Roots
When enhance was borrowed into English in the 13th century, it literally meant to raise something higher. That sense, though now obsolete, provides a clue about the origins of the word. Enhance, which was spelled enhauncen in Middle English, comes to us from Anglo-French enhaucer or enhauncer ("to raise"), which can be traced back to the Latin altus ("high") by way of an assumed Vulgar Latin verb inaltiare, which would have been formed by combining the prefix in- with the Latin altus. Although enhance initially applied only to physically making things higher, it developed an additional and less literal sense of "to exalt especially in rank or spirit," and quickly acquired extended figurative senses for raising the value or attractiveness of something or someone.
Examples of enhance in a Sentence
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 May 2025
By replacing human workers with AI tools, Intuit aims to enhance efficiency and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving fintech sector.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Fostering connections with local business owners enhances community spirit and belonging.
—American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Just add brown butter frosting, whose nuttiness is enhanced by an ingredient found in most grocery stores.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for enhance
Cite this Entry
“Enhance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enhance. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
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enhance
verb
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