different between magnifier vs magnify

English

Etymology

magnify +? -er

Noun

magnifier (plural magnifiers)

1. That which magnifies.
   1. One who extols.
   2. A magnifying glass.

Derived terms

• biomagnifier

French

Etymology

From Latin magnific?, magnific?re.

Verb

magnifier

1. to exalt with praise; usually in reference to God.

Conjugation

Further reading

• “magnifier” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Alternative forms

• magnifie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French magnifier, from Latin magnific?re, from magnificus.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ma?n?fa?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?mæ?n?fa?/

Verb

magnify (third-person singular simple present magnifies, present participle magnifying, simple past and past participle magnified)

1. (transitive) To praise, glorify (someone or something, especially God). [from 14th c.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts X:

     For they herde them speake with tonges, and magnify God.

   • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:

     For he who freely magnifies what hath been nobly done, and fears not to declare as freely what might be done better, gives ye the best cov'nant of his fidelity [...].

2. (transitive) To make (something) larger or more important. [from 14th c.]
3. (transitive) To make (someone or something) appear greater or more important than it is; to intensify, exaggerate. [from 17th c.]
4. (transitive) To make (something) appear larger by means of a lens, magnifying glass, telescope etc. [from 17th c.]
5. (intransitive, slang, obsolete) To have effect; to be of importance or significance.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spectator to this entry?)

Derived terms

• magnifier
• magnifying glass
• magnification

Related terms

• minify (opposite)

Translations