meliorate

(mēlyə rāt′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb meliorated, meliorating

to make or become better; improve; ameliorate

Origin: < LL melioratus, pp. of meliorare, to make better < L melior, better < IE base *mel-, strong, big > Gr mala, very

Related Forms:

See meliorate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb mel·io·rat·ed, mel·io·rat·ing, mel·io·rates
verb, transitive
To make better; improve.
verb, intransitive
To grow better.

Origin:

Origin: Latin meliōrāre, meliōrāt-

Origin: , from melior, better; see mel-2 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • melˈio·ra·ble (-rə-bəl) adjective
  • melˈio·raˌtive adjective & n.
  • melˈio·raˌtor noun

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