You searched for:
“ameliorate”
ameliorate (verb), ameliorates; ameliorated; ameliorating
1. To make or to become better, to be more satisfactory; to improve: Although Becky had a new computer, which was supposed to ameliorate her work and save her time, she became quite confused and impatient trying to make it do what she wanted it to do!
2. To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition: Jack, who is only eighteen, is getting bald faster than normal for his young age and so he wants to have a lotion which will ameliorate this condition and at least maintain the quantity of hair that is still on his head!
3. Etymology: an alteration of meliorate, from French améliorer.
© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
2. To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition: Jack, who is only eighteen, is getting bald faster than normal for his young age and so he wants to have a lotion which will ameliorate this condition and at least maintain the quantity of hair that is still on his head!
3. Etymology: an alteration of meliorate, from French améliorer.
Ameliorate is derived from the Latin melior, "better" and it specifically refers to making something better and improving whatever really needs improving.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
This entry is located in the following unit:
melior-, meliorat-
(page 1)