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Webster 1913 Edition

Exaggerate

Ex-ag′ger-ate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Exaggerated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Exaggerating
. ]
[L.
exaggeratus
, p. p. of
exaggerare
to heap up;
ex
out +
aggerare
to heap up, fr.
agger
heap,
aggerere
to bring to;
ad
to +
gerere
to bear. See
Jest
. ]
1.
To heap up; to accumulate.
[Obs.]
“Earth exaggerated upon them [oaks and firs].”
Sir M. Hale.
2.
To amplify; to magnify; to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth ; to delineate extravagantly ; to overstate the truth concerning.
A friend
exaggerates
a man’s virtues.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Exaggerate

EXAG'GERATE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. exaggero; ex and aggero, to heap, from agger, a heap.]
1.
To heap on; to accumulate. In this literal sense, it is seldom used; perhaps never.
2.
To highthen; to enlarge beyond the truth; to amplify; to represent as greater than strict truth will warrant. A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; a enemy exaggerates his vices or faults.
3.
In painting, to highthen in coloring or design.

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