— augmentable , adj.
v. /awg ment"/ ; n. /awg"ment/ , v.t.
1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
2. Music.
a. to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
b. to double the note values of (a theme): In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
3. Gram. to add an augment to.
4. Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).
v.i.
5. to become larger.
n.
6. Gram. a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.
[ 1375-1425; late ME au ( g ) menten au ( g ) menter augmentare to increase, deriv. of augmentum an increase ( aug ( ere ) to increase (akin to EKE) + -mentum -MENT) + -a- thematic vowel + -re inf. ending ]
Syn. 1. swell. See increase. 5. increase.