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aug·ment (ôg-mĕnt)
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v. aug·ment·ed, aug·ment·ing, aug·ments
v.tr.
1. To make (something already developed or well under way) greater, as in size, extent, or quantity: Continuing rains augmented the floodwaters. See Synonyms at increase.
2. Linguistics To add an augment to.
v.intr.
To become augmented.
n. (ôgmĕnt)
Linguistics The prefixation of a vowel accompanying a past tense, especially of Greek and Sanskrit verbs.

[Middle English augmenten, from Old French augmenter, from Late Latin augmentāre, from Latin augmentum, an increase, from augēre, to increase; see aug- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

aug·menta·ble adj.
aug·menter n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.