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Enhance Has Latin Roots
When enhance was borrowed into English in the 13th century, it literally meant to raise something higher. That sense, though now obsolete, provides a clue about the origins of the word. Enhance, which was spelled enhauncen in Middle English, comes to us from Anglo-French enhaucer or enhauncer ("to raise"), which can be traced back to the Latin altus ("high") by way of an assumed Vulgar Latin verb inaltiare, which would have been formed by combining the prefix in- with the Latin altus. Although enhance initially applied only to physically making things higher, it developed an additional and less literal sense of "to exalt especially in rank or spirit," and quickly acquired extended figurative senses for raising the value or attractiveness of something or someone.
Examples of enhance in a Sentence
Felicia Jackson, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Check out the slam dunk deals below that’ll enhance the game-viewing experience and keep sports lovers fed and hydrated.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Fat burning is boosted by increasing insulin sensitivity and enhancing fat oxidation.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025
But that too is a moment that is enhanced because of the ASL interpretation.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enhance
Cite this Entry
“Enhance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enhance. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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enhance
verb
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