Word Direct Answers

What does "magnify" mean?

Magnify: To increase the importance of; to augment the esteem or respect in which one is held. On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel. Joshua iv.

Additional senses

  1. 2.3. To praise highly; to land; to extol. [Archaic] O, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Ps. xxxiv.
  2. 3.4. To exaggerate; as, to magnify a loss or a difficulty. To magnify one's self (Script.), to exhibit pride and haughtiness; to boast. -- To magnify one's self against (Script.), to oppose with pride.
  3. 4.To have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they really are; to increase the apparent dimensions of objects; as, some lenses magnify but little.
  4. 5.To have effect; to be of importance or significance. [Cant & Obs.] Spectator. Magnifying glass, a lens which magnifies the apparent dimensions of objects seen through it.

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