The etymology of the word "enhance" is quite interesting, tracing its roots back through several languages. Let's break it down step by step.

Etymological Journey of "Enhance"

The word "enhance" originates from the late 13th century, with the Old English word anhaunsen, meaning "to raise, make higher".[1] This word comes from the Anglo-French word enhauncer.[1] The Anglo-French word enhauncer likely comes from the Old French word enhaucier, which meant "make greater, make higher or louder; fatten, foster; raise in esteem".[1]

The Old French word enhaucier is derived from the Vulgar Latin word inaltiare, which means "raise, exalt".[1] Inaltiare comes from the Late Latin word inaltare, which means "raise".[1] The word inaltare is derived from the Latin word altus, which means "high", and literally means "grown tall".[1]

The "-h-" in Old French is thought to be influenced by the Frankish word hoh, which also means "high".[1] The "-n-" in "enhance" may be due to its association with the Provençal words enansar and enanzar, which mean "promote, further".[1] These words come from enant, meaning "before, rather", which comes from the Latin words in and ante, meaning "before".[1]

Original Meaning

Citations

In essence, the word "enhance" has a rich history, stemming from the idea of making something higher or greater, both literally and figuratively.

Summary

The original meaning of "enhance" was "to raise, make higher."[1] Over time, the meaning expanded to include "raise in station, wealth, or fame" around the 1300s.[1] The word has evolved to mean "to improve something by adding features" [5] and "to make better or more attractive."[5]