augment

n. [ L. augmentum: cf. F. augment. ] 1. Enlargement by addition; increase. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) A vowel prefixed, or a lengthening of the initial vowel, to mark past time, as in Greek and Sanskrit verbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In Greek, the syllabic augment is a prefixed &unr_;, forming an intial syllable; the temporal augment is an increase of the quantity (time) of an initial vowel, as by changing &unr_; to &unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To increase; to grow larger, stronger, or more intense; as, a stream augments by rain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of augmentation. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. augmentatio: cf. F. augmentation. ] 1. The act or process of augmenting, or making larger, by addition, expansion, or dilation; increase. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being augmented; enlargement. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The thing added by way of enlargement. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Her.) A additional charge to a coat of arms, given as a mark of honor. Cussans. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) The stage of a disease in which the symptoms go on increasing. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) In counterpoint and fugue, a repetition of the subject in tones of twice the original length. [ 1913 Webster ]

Augmentation court (Eng. Hist.), a court erected by Stat. 27 Hen. VIII., to augment the revenues of the crown by the suppression of monasteries. It was long ago dissolved. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Increase; enlargement; growth; extension; accession; addition. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) A word which expresses with augmented force the idea or the properties of the term from which it is derived; as, dullard, one very dull. Opposed to diminutive. Gibbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. augmentatif. ] Having the quality or power of augmenting; expressing augmentation. -- Aug*ment"a*tive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]