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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
Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2025
The league is focused on four key areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment of core against hate.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
When your legs are elevated, gravity pushes blood back toward your heart, which could help enhance blood flow in the body, per Healthline.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 17 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 21 May. 2025.
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enhance
verb
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