ameliorate

English

WOTD – 7 September 2006

Etymology

Alteration of meliorate after French améliorer.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /əˈmiːli.əɹeɪt/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Verb

ameliorate (third-person singular simple present ameliorates, present participle ameliorating, simple past and past participle ameliorated)

  1. (transitive) To make better, or improve, something perceived to be in a negative condition.
    They offered some compromises in an effort to ameliorate the situation.
  2. (intransitive) To become better; improve.

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Antonyms

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See also

References

  1. ^ ameliorate, v.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.