different between improve vs embellish
improve
English
Alternative forms
- emprove (obsolete)
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?m?p?u?v/
- Rhymes: -u?v
Verb
improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)
- (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
- (intransitive) To become better.
- “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
- (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
- 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man
- Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another cannot improve.
- 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man
- (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
- 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man
- When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.
- 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man
- (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
- a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Reward of Honouring God (sermon)
- We shall especially honour God, by discharging faithfully those offices which God hath entrusted us with: by improving diligently those talents which God hath committed to us
- a hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved
- the court has also an opportunity, which it seldom fails to improve.
- 1715, Isaac Watts, Against Idleness and Mischief
- How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour.
- March 7, 1778, George Washington, letter
- True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.
- a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Reward of Honouring God (sermon)
Synonyms
- (to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve
Antonyms
- (to make something worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
- (to become worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen
Derived terms
- improvement
- improver
- improving
Translations
Further reading
- "improve" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 160.
improve From the web:
- what improves when a bullet spins as it is fired
- what improves memory
- what improves circulation
- what improves eyesight
- what improves flexibility
- what improves kidney function
- what improvements increase home value
- what improves credit score
embellish
English
Etymology
From Old French embellir, from em- + bel.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?m?b?l??/, /?m-/
Verb
embellish (third-person singular simple present embellishes, present participle embellishing, simple past and past participle embellished)
- To make more beautiful and attractive; to decorate.
- The old book cover was embellished with golden letters
- To make something sound or look better or more acceptable than it is in reality; to distort, to embroider.
- to embellish a story, the truth
Synonyms
- adorn
- beautify
- decorate
- deck
- grace
- ornament
- prettify
- See also Thesaurus:decorate
Translations
embellish From the web:
- what embellished mean
- what embellishment has one note
- what's embellishment in hockey
- what embellished mean in arabic
- what embellish means in spanish
- what's embellishment in french
- embellish what does it mean
- what are embellishments quizlet
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