Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'aggrandize'

English Word: aggrandize

Key Russian Translations:

• возвеличить [vɐzvʲɪˈlʲitɕ] - [Formal]
• усилить [uˈsʲilʲitʲ] - [Formal, when emphasizing increase in power or scale]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are not everyday vocabulary but appear in formal, literary, or historical contexts in Russian.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language structures. For 'возвеличить', it's B2; for 'усилить', it's B1 due to its more common usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

возвеличить: [vɐzvʲɪˈlʲitɕ]

усилить: [uˈsʲilʲitʲ]

Note on возвеличить: The stress is on the third syllable ('li'), and the 'щ' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To increase the power, wealth, or importance of someone or something, often in a formal or exaggerated way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• возвеличить - Used in formal, literary, or historical contexts to denote glorification or elevation, such as in discussions of leaders or empires.
• усилить - Applied in more general contexts involving amplification of influence or size, but less emphasis on glorification.

Usage Examples:

• Он пытался возвеличить свою семью в глазах общества. (He tried to aggrandize his family in the eyes of society.)

  English Translation: He tried to aggrandize his family in the eyes of society.

• Власти решили усилить своё влияние на регион. (The authorities decided to aggrandize their influence over the region.)

  English Translation: The authorities decided to aggrandize their influence over the region.

• Эта реформа была предназначена, чтобы возвеличить экономику страны. (This reform was intended to aggrandize the country's economy.)

  English Translation: This reform was intended to aggrandize the country's economy.

• Он искусно усилил свой аргумент, добавив новые данные. (He skillfully aggrandized his argument by adding new data.)

  English Translation: He skillfully aggrandized his argument by adding new data.

• В исторических текстах часто возвеличивают роль героев. (In historical texts, the role of heroes is often aggrandized.)

  English Translation: In historical texts, the role of heroes is often aggrandized.

Secondary Meaning: To exaggerate or make something appear more important than it is.

Translation(s) & Context:

• возвеличить - In contexts involving overstatement, such as in rhetoric or propaganda.

Usage Examples:

• Медиа часто возвеличивают незначительные события. (The media often aggrandizes insignificant events.)

  English Translation: The media often aggrandizes insignificant events.

• Не стоит возвеличить эту проблему до уровня кризиса. (Don't aggrandize this issue to the level of a crisis.)

  English Translation: Don't aggrandize this issue to the level of a crisis.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, mood, and person. 'Возвеличить' is a perfective verb, while 'усилить' can be both perfective and imperfective in related forms.

For 'возвеличить' (perfective):

For 'усилить' (perfective), it follows a similar pattern but is more regular. Note: It has an imperfective counterpart 'усилить' vs. 'усилить' (wait, correction: imperfective is 'усилить' is perfective; imperfective is 'усилить'—actually, 'усилить' is perfective, and 'усилить' pairs with 'усилить' in forms). This verb does not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возвысить (to elevate; similar but often used for social status)
  • преувеличить (to exaggerate; more focused on overstatement)
• Antonyms:
  • уменьшить (to diminish)
  • ослабить (to weaken)

Related Phrases:

• Возвеличить себя (To aggrandize oneself) - Refers to self-promotion or exaggeration of one's own importance.
• Усилить влияние (To aggrandize influence) - Common in political or business contexts to mean expanding power.
• Возвеличить в глазах общественности (To aggrandize in the eyes of the public) - Used for enhancing public perception.

Usage Notes:

'Возвеличить' is a more precise match for 'aggrandize' in formal or literary Russian, capturing the nuance of glorification, while 'усилить' is broader and often used interchangeably for general amplification. Be cautious with context: 'возвеличить' implies a positive or exaggerated elevation, common in historical narratives, whereas 'усилить' is neutral. In everyday speech, opt for 'усилить' for simplicity. Grammatically, both verbs require agreement with the subject in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'возвеличить' in informal contexts where 'усилить' would be more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я возвеличу мой аргумент" instead of "Я усилю мой аргумент" for everyday discussion. Correct: Use 'усилить' for non-exaggerated increase. Explanation: 'Возвеличить' sounds overly dramatic in casual settings.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, such as saying "возвеличивать" (imperfective) when a perfective form is needed for completed actions. Correct: For a one-time event, use "возвеличил". Explanation: Russian verbs have aspect, and mixing them can alter the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'возвеличить' often appear in literature and historical texts, such as in the works of Pushkin or Tolstoy, where they describe the glorification of tsars or heroes. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on grandeur and national pride, which can make the word feel more poetic than practical in modern usage.

Related Concepts:

• власть (power)
• престиж (prestige)
• героизм (heroism)