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Webster 1913 Edition


Enlarge

En-large′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Enlarged
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Enlarging
.]
[OF.
enlargier
; pref.
en-
(L.
in
) + F.
large
wide. See
Large
.]
1.
To make larger; to increase in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits; to magnify;
as, the body is
enlarged
by nutrition; to
enlarge
one’s house.
To
enlarge
their possessions of land.
Locke.
2.
To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, and the like;
as, knowledge
enlarges
the mind
.
O ye Corinthians, our . . . heart is
enlarged
.
2 Cor. vi. 11.
3.
To set at large or set free.
[Archaic]
It will
enlarge
us from all restraints.
Barrow.
Syn. – To increase; extend; expand; spread; amplify; augment; magnify. See
Increase
.

En-large′

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To grow large or larger; to be further extended; to expand;
as, a plant
enlarges
by growth; an estate
enlarges
by good management; a volume of air
enlarges
by rarefaction.
2.
To speak or write at length; to be diffuse in speaking or writing; to expatiate; to dilate.
To
enlarge
upon this theme.
M. Arnold.
3.
(Naut.)
To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; – said of the wind.

Webster 1828 Edition


Enlarge

ENL`ARGE

,
Verb.
T.
enlarj. [from large.] To make greater in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits, breadth or side; to expand in bulk. Every man desires to enlarge his possessions; the prince, his dominions. and the landholder, his farm. The body is enlarged by nutrition, and a good man rejoices to enlarge the sphere of his benevolence.
God shall enlarge Japhet. Gen.9.
1.
To dilate; to expand; as with joy or love.
O ye, Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our
heart is enlarged.
2.
To expand; to make more comprehensive. Science enlarges the mind.
3.
To increase in appearance; to magnify to the eye; as by a glass.
4.
To set at liberty; to release from confinement or pressure.
5.
To extend in a discourse; to diffuse in eloquence.
They enlarged themselves on this subject.
In this application, the word is generally intransitive.
6.
To augment; to increase; to make large or larger, in a general sense; a word of general application.
To enlarge the heart, may signify to open and expand in good will; to make free, liberal and charitable.

ENL`ARGE

,
Verb.
I.
enlarj. To grow large or larger; to extend; to dilate; to expand. A plant enlarges by growth; an estate enlarges by good management; a volume of air enlarges by rarefaction.
1.
To be diffuse in speaking or writing; to expatiate. I might enlarge on this topic.
2.
To exaggerate.

Definition 2024


enlarge

enlarge

English

Verb

enlarge (third-person singular simple present enlarges, present participle enlarging, simple past and past participle enlarged)

  1. (transitive) To make larger.
  2. (transitive) To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, etc.
    Knowledge enlarges the mind.
    • Bible, 2 Corinthians vi. 11
      O ye Corinthians, our [] heart is enlarged.
  3. (intransitive) To speak at length upon or on (some subject)
    • 1664, Samuel Butler, Hudibras 2.2.68:
      I shall enlarge upon the Point.
  4. (archaic) To release; to set at large.
    • 1580, Philip Sidney, Arcadia 329:
      Like a Lionesse lately enlarged.
    • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.8:
      Finding no meanes how I might us enlarge, / But if that Dwarfe I could with me convay, / I lightly snatcht him up and with me bore away.
    • Barrow
      It will enlarge us from all restraints.
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act II Scene II:
      Uncle of Exeter, enlarge the man committed yesterday, that rail'd against our person. We consider it was excess of wine that set him on.
  5. (nautical) To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; said of the wind.
  6. (law) To extend the time allowed for compliance with (an order or rule).
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Abbott to this entry?)

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