Enhancing

How to spell enhancing

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce enhancing

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does enhancing mean?

1. verbIncreasing or improving the quality, value, or extent of something.

Enhancing in a sentence

• The new lighting is enhancing the appearance of the showroom.

• Adding fresh herbs is a simple way of enhancing the flavour of the soup.

Where does enhancing come from?

Language of origin: French

This word traces back through Old French enhaucier or enhaucer, meaning 'to raise' or 'lift up', which in turn came from a Vulgar Latin form inaltiare, built from the prefix in- 'in, into, towards' and altus, meaning 'high' (the same root that gives us 'altitude' and 'exalt'). When English borrowed the verb in the 1300s, its earliest sense was literally to make higher or to lift, and even to increase a price or a charge. Over time the meaning shifted from physical height to abstract improvement, so that today to enhance something is to heighten its quality, value, or effect. The present participle 'enhancing' simply adds the -ing ending to that verb. A useful spelling cue is that the middle keeps the soft 'c' before the 'i', and there is no 'd' anywhere despite how the word sounds when spoken quickly.

How the word is built

• en- (to make, cause)
• hanc (raise, from Old French haucier)
• -ing (present participle suffix)