enhance
/ɪnˈhɑːns
/ /ɪnˈhans/ /ɛnˈhɑːns/ /ɛnˈhans/verb [with object]
Intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of: his refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation...
- It may be sensible to use it to pay for a major home repair or improvement that will enhance the quality of your life.
- This approach has ensured that great strides have been made in improving and enhancing the cemetery.
- Improving democracy is about enhancing the opportunities for local communities to make their own decisions.
Synonyms
increase, add to, intensify, magnify, amplify, inflate, strengthen, build up, supplement, augment, boost, upgrade, raise, lift, escalate, elevate, exalt, aggrandize, swell;
improve, enrich, complement, heighten, deepen, stress, reinforce, underline, emphasize
informal jack up, hike
Origin
Middle English (formerly also as inhance): from Anglo-Norman French enhauncer, based on Latin in- (expressing intensive force) + altus 'high'. The word originally meant 'elevate' (literally and figuratively), later 'exaggerate, make appear greater', also 'raise the value or price of something'. Current senses date from the early 16th century.
altitude from Late Middle English:
Altitude is from Latin altitudo, from altus ‘high’. The latter is also the source of altar (Old English), a raised structure for worship, enhance (Middle English), originally ‘make higher’; exalt (Late Middle English), with ex- ‘out, upwards’; and haughty (mid 16th century), from altus via French haut.