Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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verb
To magnify the greatness of (someone or something); to exalt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act grandly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To work on one's magnum opus (“great or important work of art, literature, or music, a masterpiece; best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an artist or author, representing their major life effort”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
PIE word *méǵh2s From Latin magnopere (“exceedingly, greatly; earnestly, vehemently”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), modelled after operate, further from the univerbation of magnō (ablative neuter singular of magnus (“big, large; (figuratively) great, important”)) + opere (ablative singular of opus (“labour, toil, accomplishment, work; work (of art, literature, etc.)”)), literally “with great zeal, effort, work done”, ultimately from the roots of Proto-Indo-European *méǵh2s (“big, great”)) and Proto-Indo-European *h3ep- (“to toil, work; to make; ability; force”)).
From magnum opus + -ate (verb-forming suffix), in this sense coined by the English poet Lord Byron (1788–1824): see the 1821 quotation, further from Latin magnum opus, from magnum (nominative neuter singular of magnus (“big, large; (figuratively) great, important”)) + opus (“accomplishment, work; work (of art, literature, etc.)”); see further at etymology 1.
