Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 19th.
Today's word is aggrandize, spelled A-G-G-R-A-N-D-I-Z-E.
Aggrandize is a verb.
To aggrandize someone or something is to enhance their power, wealth, position, or reputation.
Aggrandize can also mean to increase or enlarge or to praise highly.
Here's the word used in a sentence from Literary Hub.
Many congregants spoke of their admiration for Tietzi.
They came forward to tell stories of previous encounters with him, while some were obvious fabrications,
meant to aggrandize the narrator by his association with Tsietsi, most seemed true.
Aggrandize is a grand word, and we don't just mean that in praise.
The word literally traces back to the Latin adjective grandis, meaning fully grown, large, great.
And it has enhanced the English language for over three centuries.
Nowadays, aggrandize is often paired with self, either the word or the prefix.
To aggrandize oneself or to be self-aggrandizing is to glorify oneself
or to intently pursue power, wealth, and the like.
It's, of course, great to take pride in a job well done, but we appreciate those who keep it real.
After all, not every hit can be a grand slam.
With your Word of the Day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.
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