Enhanced

How to spell enhanced

8 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce enhanced

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does enhanced mean?

1. adjectiveImproved in quality, value, or intensity beyond the standard version.
2. verbPast tense of enhance: improved or intensified the quality or value of something.

Enhanced in a sentence

• adjective

  The bank rolled out enhanced security checks for online transfers.

• verb

  The new lighting greatly enhanced the appearance of the showroom.

• adjective

  She paid extra for the enhanced edition of the language course.

• verb

  A year of practice enhanced her confidence in front of clients.

Where does enhanced come from?

Language of origin: French

This word descends from the verb 'enhance', which English borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'enhauncer', a variant of 'enhaucier'. That form goes back to Vulgar Latin 'inaltiare', built from the prefix 'in-' (here meaning 'to put into' or 'make') and 'altus', the Latin word for 'high' or 'tall'. The literal early meaning was therefore 'to raise up' or 'lift higher', and in medieval English it was often used for physically raising something or increasing a price. Over the centuries the sense softened from literal height into the figurative idea of improving, intensifying, or adding value to something. The buried Latin 'altus' is the same root that survives in 'altitude' and 'exalt', which is a useful reminder that the middle of the word carries an 'h' you cannot hear.

How the word is built

• en- (make, put into)
• hance (from Latin altus: high)
• -ed (past tense / adjectival suffix)