English Dictionary: aggravate | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for aggravate | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Aggravate \Ag"gra*vate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Aggravated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Aggravating}.] [L. aggravatus, p. p. of aggravare. See {Aggrieve}.] 1. To make heavy or heavier; to add to; to increase. [Obs.] [bd]To aggravate thy store.[b8] --Shak. 2. To make worse, or more severe; to render less tolerable or less excusable; to make more offensive; to enhance; to intensify. [bd]To aggravate my woes.[b8] --Pope. To aggravate the horrors of the scene. --Prescott. The defense made by the prisoner's counsel did rather aggravate than extenuate his crime. --Addison. 3. To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to aggravate circumstances. --Paley. 4. To exasperate; to provoke; to irritate. [Colloq.] If both were to aggravate her parents, as my brother and sister do mine. --Richardson (Clarissa). Syn: To heighten; intensify; increase; magnify; exaggerate; provoke; irritate; exasperate. |