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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Enlarge

En-lārge', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ENLARGED; p. pr. & vb. n. ENLARGING.] [Prefix en and large, q. v.; O. Fr. enlarger.]

  1. To make larger; to increase in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits; to expand; as, the body is enlarged by nutrition; a good man rejoices to enlarge the sphere of his benevolence.
  2. To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, and the like; as, knowledge enlarges the mind.

O ye Corinthians, our . . . heart is enlarged. 2 Cor. vi. 11. 3. To become diffuse; to spread out discourse; to amplify; to expand; — rarely used reflexively. They enlarged themselves on this subject. Clarendon. 4. To set at large; to release from confinement or pressure; to give freedom to. [Obs.] It will enlarge us from all restraints. Barrow. To enlarge the heart, to make free, liberal, and charitable. Syn.—To increase; to extend; to expand. See INCREASE.

En-lärge', v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To grow large or larger; to extend; to dilate; to expand; as, a plant enlarges by growth; an estate enlarges by good management; a volume of air enlarges by rarefaction. 2. To be diffuse in speaking or writing; to expatiate; to dilate; as, to enlarge upon a certain topic.