Enlarge

How to spell enlarge

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce enlarge

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does enlarge mean?

1. verbTo make something bigger in size, extent, or scope.

Enlarge in a sentence

• The architect was asked to enlarge the kitchen during the renovation.

• The photo lab can enlarge the image to fit a poster frame.

Where does enlarge come from?

Language of origin: French

This word comes from the Old French enlargier, which meant 'to make wide or roomy'. It was built from the prefix en-, meaning 'to make' or 'to cause to be', joined to large, which traces back to the Latin adjective largus, meaning 'abundant, plentiful, or spacious'. English adopted enlarge in the 1300s, at first carrying senses such as 'to set free' or 'to increase in scope', before settling into its modern meaning of making something bigger in size or extent. The same Latin largus also gives us the everyday word 'large' itself, as well as 'largesse', the generous giving of gifts. The spelling trap lives at the front: the prefix is en-, not in-, even though the unstressed first syllable sounds the same either way.

How the word is built

• en- (make, cause to be)
• large (from Latin largus: abundant, spacious)