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Enhance Has Latin Roots
When enhance was borrowed into English in the 13th century, it literally meant to raise something higher. That sense, though now obsolete, provides a clue about the origins of the word. Enhance, which was spelled enhauncen in Middle English, comes to us from Anglo-French enhaucer or enhauncer ("to raise"), which can be traced back to the Latin altus ("high") by way of an assumed Vulgar Latin verb inaltiare, which would have been formed by combining the prefix in- with the Latin altus. Although enhance initially applied only to physically making things higher, it developed an additional and less literal sense of "to exalt especially in rank or spirit," and quickly acquired extended figurative senses for raising the value or attractiveness of something or someone.
Examples of enhance in a Sentence
Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The movement showcases a unique patented tooth profile in its winding assembly, where the angled teeth of the winding pinion enhance efficiency and minimize wear.
—Bhanu Chopra, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Moreover, while improving soil health and biodiversity, ranchers can enhance productivity.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 29 July 2025
The midfielder’s passing is enhanced by his ability to play the ball from different angles and trickery to create the angles in the first place, as seen below from Forest’s 3-1 victory against Fulham in April 2024.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 29 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Enhance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enhance. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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enhance
verb
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