1. gen. One who, or that which, enhances.
1388. Wyclif, Exod. xxii. 15. And Moises bildide an auter and clepide the name thereof The Lord myn enhaunsere.
1568. Like Will to Like, in Hazl., Dodsley, III. 316. Thou art the enhancer of my renown.
1611. Rich, Honest. Age (1844), 65. Pride is the inhaunser of all our miseries.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., iv. 96. Errors of life as well as foibles of characters are often the real enhancers of celebrity.
2. spec. a. One who sets up or raises a weir to an excessive height. (Cf. quot. 1622 s.v. ENHANCING vbl. sb.)
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 205. It gives the like penalty against him which shall relevy the annoyance, as against the inhauncer.
b. One who raises or seeks to raise prices. † Formerly also absol. (cf. engrosser, forestaller).
1549. Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 111. Money makers, inhauncers, and promoters of them selues.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 47. In no wise to be a raiser or enhaunser of rentes.
1631. Star Chamb. Cases (1886), 46. Yet he was adjudged an inhauncer for but advising the same.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 151.
| The Jew-Forestaller and Enhancer, | |
| To him for all their Crimes did answer. |
