Forms: 4 aument, 6 agg-, auge-, 5– augment. [a. F. augmente-r (14th c.), earlier aumenter, cogn. with It. aumentare, Sp. aumentar:—L. augmentā-re to increase, f. augment-um: see prec.]
1. trans. To make greater in size, number, amount, degree, etc.; to increase, enlarge, extend.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 116. Hou our Navye may be mayntenyd, and augmentyd.
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., IV. xiv. (1634), 634, marg. The power which Sacraments have in augmenting Faith.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 58. [The Tiber] is augmented with two and forty riuers.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., § 5. 66. The Chords of the Lyre were augmented gradually from four to forty.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., 217. The insurgents were intent upon augmenting and strengthening their forces.
2. intr. To become greater in size, amount, degree, intensity, etc.; to increase, grow, swell.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5600. For to encrese, and not to lesse, For to aument and multiplie.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 51. The bruit of preu Jason augmentid and encresid from day to day.
1589. Greene, Menaph. (Arb.), 39. The grasse hath his increase, yet never anie sees it augment.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 466. The Winds redouble, and the Rains augment.
1869. Tyndall, Light, § 436. The polarizing angle augments with the refractive index of the medium.
† 3. trans. To increase or add to the resources of; to enhance in circumstances. Obs.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 93. To augment his Realme in Rycesse, Welth, and Prosperyte.
1529. Wolsey, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 11. Aggmentyng my lyvyng, and appoyntyng such thyngs as shuld be convenient for my furniture.
1601. Cornwallyes, Essayes, II. xxxvi. (1631), 117. Thou augmentest their state purchasing a blessing upon their house and life.
† 4. trans. and refl. To raise (a person) in estimation or dignity; to exalt. Obs.
1567. Trial Treas., in Hazl., Dodsl., III. 273. Labour yourself to advance and augment.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. ii. § 43. II. 84. Theobald … was augmented with the title of Legatus natus.
† b. intr. To rise in estimation or dignity. Obs.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel., I v b. With a littell fauour ye wyll exalt, augement, and grow into gret prid.
5. Her. (trans.) To make an honorable addition to (a coat of arms).
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IV. II. 357. The Armes of London were augmented with the addition of a Dagger.
1864. Boutell, Heraldry Hist. & Pop., xiii. 95. The Scottish Baronets of Nova Scotia were authorized to augment their own Arms.
† 6. To multiply (mathematically). Obs.
1571. Digges, Pantom., III. iii. Q ij. The Solide content of a Cylinder is gotten by augmenting the base in his altitude.
1593. T. Fale, Dialling, 31. Augment the Sine of the Complement repeated, by the Sine of the doubtfull Arke: an the product arising thereof … shall be the distance [etc.].
