Ennoble

v. Also 7–8 enoble, 6–8 innoble, 7 inoble. [ad. F. ennoblir, f. en- (see EN- pref.¹) + noble, NOBLE a.] trans.

  1.  To give the rank of nobleman to (a person).

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 81. To ennoble those That scarse, some two dayes since were worth a Noble.

a. 1638.  Mede, On Deut. xxxiii. 8, Wks. I. 179. Levi was enobled … specially, as being of kin to Moses the Prince of the Congregation.

1791.  Gent. Mag., LXI. 1105. His [Columbus’] family was ennobled.

1812.  H. & J. Smith, Horace in Lond., 122. Virtue builds herself a throne, Ennobling whom she touches.

1845.  Ld. Campbell, Chancellors (1857), II. xxxviii. 146. Most of the Executors ennobled themselves, or took a step in the Peerage.

  2.  To impart nobility to (a person or thing). Formerly also, to attribute nobility to.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men, I. iv. (W. de W., 1506), 43. Enryched and ennobled with holy mysteryes.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. O ij b. The more to innoble, and set foorth the excellencie of this honorable calling of a bishop.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, II. iii. 179. She … so ennobled, Is as ’twere borne so.

1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 149. Cicero innobled the meannesse of his birth.

1838.  Emerson, Addr. Cambr. Mass., Wks. (Bohn), II. 191. He who does a good deed, is instantly ennobled.

1876.  Green, Short Hist., viii. § i. (1882), 451. The meanest peasant felt himself ennobled as a child of God.

  3.  To impart a higher character to (a person or thing); to dignify, elevate, refine.

1636.  E. Dacres, trans. Machiavel’s Disc. Livy, II. 511. Mens hands and tongues two of their worthiest instruments to ennoble them.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 992. Much won that he his Love Had so enobl’d.

1713.  Berkeley, Ess., ix. in Guardian, No. 70, Wks. III. 174. The Christian Religion ennobleth and enlargeth the mind.

1784.  Cowper, Task, V. 603. The loss of all That can enoble man.

1825.  Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 441. These palaces [are] … now ennobled into a refuge.

1846.  Trench, Mirac., i. (1862), 118. The Son of God … ennobling all that He touches.

  † 4.  To render famous or illustrious. Obs.

1563.  Golding, Cæsar (1565), 266 b. Surus a Heduan a man both for manhod and for birth greatlye ennobled.

1624.  Bacon, War w. Spain, 16, Misc. Wks. (1670) (J.). The Spaniards … onely ennobled some of the Coasts thereof with shipwracks.

1679.  Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 407. Tho’ the place … were enobled with the martyrdoms of a 1000 Christians.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., XXII. 313. Bear Thy death, ennobl’d by Ulysses’ spear.

1775.  Adair, Amer. Ind., 378. If they have … enobled themselves by war actions.

  5.  Of light: To render conspicuous. Obs. rare.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. iv. (1669), 339. The light that ennobles him, tempts Inquisitive Men to keep him … from sleeping. Ibid. (1667), Orig. Formes & Qual. Stiriæ, that enoble the darker Body.