Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ennoble'

English Word: ennoble

Key Russian Translations:

• возвысить [vɐzˈvʲisʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Literary]
• облагородить [ɐbləɡɐrɐˈdʲitʲ] - [Formal, Used in contexts of moral or social elevation]

Frequency: Medium - This verb appears in literary, historical, or formal discussions but is not everyday vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of abstract concepts and verb conjugations; for "возвысить," it's B2, while "облагородить" might be B1 for simpler forms.

Pronunciation (Russian):

возвысить: [vɐzˈvʲisʲɪtʲ]

Note on возвысить: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 's' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

облагородить: [ɐbləɡɐrɐˈdʲitʲ]

Note on облагородить: Pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech; the 'o' in "об" is reduced to a schwa sound.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To elevate or make someone or something noble, often in a social, moral, or metaphorical sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• возвысить - Used in formal or literary contexts to denote raising someone's status or dignity, e.g., in historical narratives.
• облагородить - Applied in contexts involving moral improvement or refinement, such as in ethical discussions or personal development.

Usage Examples:

• Король возвысил его до рыцарского звания. (Korol' vozvyisil ego do rytsarskogo zvaniya.)

  The king ennobled him to the rank of knight.

• Эта книга смогла облагородить его характер. (Eta kniga smogla oblagorodit' ego kharakter.)

  This book was able to ennoble his character.

• Революция возвысила простой народ до равенства. (Revolyutsiya vozvyisila prostoy narod do ravenstva.)

  The revolution ennobled the common people to equality.

• Искусство может облагородить даже самые обыденные вещи. (Iskusstvo mozhet oblagorodit' dazhe samyye obydennyye veshchi.)

  Art can ennoble even the most mundane things.

• Его речь возвысила аудиторию, вдохновив на действия. (Yego rech' vozvyisila auditoriyu, vdokhnuv na deystviya.)

  His speech ennobled the audience, inspiring them to action.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "возвысить" and "облагородить" are perfective verbs in Russian, meaning they express a completed action. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for the first conjugation group.

Note: These verbs do not change in a highly irregular way, but always pair with imperfective forms for ongoing actions (e.g., возвышать for the imperfective of возвысить).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вознести - Similar to возвысить, but often implies a more spiritual or exalted elevation.
  • возвеличить - Emphasizes glorification, used in contexts of praise or honor.
• Antonyms:
  • унизить - Directly opposes by meaning to humiliate or degrade.
  • опустить - Implies lowering or debasing status.

Related Phrases:

• возвысить до трона - To elevate to the throne; used in historical or monarchical contexts.
• облагородить душу - To ennoble the soul; refers to moral or spiritual improvement.
• возвысить в глазах общества - To raise in the eyes of society; meaning to improve one's social standing.

Usage Notes:

"Возвысить" is the most direct translation for "ennoble" in contexts of social or status elevation, while "облагородить" fits better for moral or ethical enhancement. In Russian, these verbs are often used in formal writing or speech; avoid them in casual conversations. Remember that Russian verbs require aspect consideration—use perfective for completed actions. When choosing between translations, opt for "возвысить" if the focus is on external status and "облагородить" for internal character development.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners might use the imperfective form incorrectly. Error: "Я возвышаю его" (meaning "I am ennobling him" ongoing), but for a completed action, it should be "Я возвысил его." Correct: Use perfective for finished events.
• Misusing synonyms: Learners may swap "возвысить" with "вознести," which has a more religious connotation. Error: "Он вознес своего друга" when meaning social elevation. Correct: Use "возвысить" for non-spiritual contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "возвысить" often evoke historical themes of nobility and the tsarist era, where social elevation was tied to the imperial court. This reflects Russia's aristocratic past, making such vocabulary common in literature by authors like Tolstoy, who explored themes of social mobility and moral integrity.

Related Concepts:

• благородство (nobility)
• аристократия (aristocracy)
• возвышение (elevation)