magnify
UK: ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ | US: ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ
vt. to make something appear larger, especially using a lens or microscope
vt. to exaggerate or overemphasize something
vt. (archaic) to praise or glorify
magnify = magni<large> + fy<make>
- magni: From Latin magnus (large, great). Retained in English as a combining form (e.g., magnitude, magnificent).
- fy: A verb-forming suffix derived from Latin -ficare (to make), via Old French -fier. Compare simplify, intensify.
Etymology Origin:
The word magnify entered Middle English from Old French magnifier, itself from Latin magnificare ("to make great"). The Latin root magnus (great) is Indo-European in origin, linked to concepts of physical size and importance. Over time, magnify shifted from literal enlargement (e.g., optical magnification) to metaphorical exaggeration (e.g., "magnifying a problem"). The suffix -fy systematically converts adjectives into causative verbs, preserving its original "make" meaning.
The microscope magnifies the specimen 400 times.
She tends to magnify small issues into major crises.
The poet magnified the hero’s deeds in his verses.
This app can magnify text for better readability.
His speech magnified the importance of environmental conservation.