ˈhīt ə n verb
( heightened ; heightened ; heightening -t( ə )niŋ ; heightens )
Etymology: height (I) + -en
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to increase the amount or degree or detail or extent of : augment , amplify
heightening his speed — Edith Sitwell
conflict has heightened citizens' awareness of what they want — Constance Green
this only heightens our admiration — Edmund Wilson
heightened their campaign against news censorship — Americana Annual
(2) : to make (as a color, an emotional experience) brighter or more glowing or more intense : deepen , intensify
happiness heightened the natural ruddiness of her cheeks
(3) : to delineate more sharply : make more evident : bring out more strongly : point up : highlight
shade heightens the brightness of light — Havelock Ellis
the benevolent expression of his face was heightened in later years by his white hair and beard — F.H.Dewey & E.S.Bates
(4) : to make more acute : sharpen
which had heightened his appreciation of the more austere pleasures of the afternoon — Archibald Marshall
(5) : to make more poignant
their sorrow was heightened by their forced absence from home
(6) : to increase the impact of : strengthen
rapid action heightens the effect of the drama
b.
(1) : to give physical height to or increase the physical height of : raise high or higher : elevate
the building had been heightened by the addition of a second story
(2) : to raise above the ordinary or trite : make better by adding stature or distinction to
how can we use this fact to heighten our civilization — C.A.Lindbergh b. 1902
2. obsolete : to cause to be elated or excited : exalt
being heightened with this victory — James Ussher
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to become great or greater in physical height : grow , rise
as we rode up the carriageway, the rock seemed to heighten marvelously — J.H.Newman
2.
a. : to become great or greater in amount, degree, detail, or extent
his youthful impatience heightened — A.J.Cronin
b. : to become brighter (as of a color) or more glowing or more intense
though the color had heightened in his cheek, he did not flinch from his friend's gaze — James Joyce
Synonyms: see intensify