dictionary definitions for "ameliorate"


From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ameliorate \A*mel"io*rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ameliorated;
     p. pr. & vb. n. Ameliorating.] [L. ad + meliorare to make
     better: cf. F. am['e]liorer. See Meliorate.]
     To make better; to improve; to meliorate.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his
           own condition.                           --Macaulay.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ameliorate \A*mel"io*rate\, v. i.
     To grow better; to meliorate; as, wine ameliorates by age.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  ameliorate
      v 1: to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with
           his changes" [syn: better, improve, amend,
           ameliorate, meliorate] [ant: aggravate, exacerbate,
           exasperate, worsen]
      2: get better; "The weather improved toward evening" [syn:
         better, improve, ameliorate, meliorate] [ant:
         decline, worsen]


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