meliorate, v.
(ˈmiːlɪəreɪt)
[f. late L. meliōrāt-, ppl. stem of meliōrāre, f. L. meliōr-, melior better.]
1. trans. To make better, to improve; = ameliorate v. Also, † to mitigate (suffering, ill-feeling).
| a 1552 Leland Itin. (1768) III. 65 This Joannes Grandisonus chaungid an hold Fundation of an Hospital of S. John's in Excester and melioratid it. 1598 in Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 190 If he hes meliorat or deteriorat his benefice any way to the prejudice of his successor. 1620 Venner Via Recta ii. 41 They are meliorated, by putting to them sugar, nutmeg, and..ginger. 1647 Jer. Taylor Lib. Proph. xix. 248 Religion is to meliorate the condition of a people. 1702 W. J. Bruyn's Voy. Levant xli. 166 A Fatness which so far Meliorates the Lean and Sandy Soil of this Country. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia i. vii, She pleased herself with the intention of meliorating her plan in the meantime. 1796 Mrs. Howell Anzoletta Z. I. 125 These sentiments her brother..had meliorated, by proposing that a ball should be given [etc.]. 1802 Noble Wanderers II. 6 It would have meliorated his sufferings. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. i. (1857) 6 The mutiny at the Nore had not yet meliorated the service to the common sailor. 1894 W. J. Dawson Making of Manhood 29 Every movement which seeks to meliorate the common lot. |
b. absol.; spec. in Scots law, to effect ‘meliorations’ (see melioration 2 b).
| a 1701 Sedley Grumbler i. i, Nothing is more dangerous than chastisement sine causa; instead of meliorating, it pejorates. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, iii. (1796) I. 121 To squeeze and to amass, rather than to meliorate, was their object. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 641 An obligation on the tenant to meliorate or repair, if not implemented by himself, falls upon his representatives. 1845 R. Hunter Landlord & Tenant (ed. 2) II. 220 By the contract, stipulations to meliorate and preserve may bind either the lessor or lessee, or both. |
2. intr. To grow better. = ameliorate v. 2.
| 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 166 The Scot'sh Revolters in the state I left them, were not like to meliorate nor to goe lesse in animosity. 1681 Nevile Plato Rediv. 269 That we can never Meliorate, but by some such Principles, as we have been here all this while discoursing of. 1764 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) II. 76 British ferocity [began] to meliorate into social politeness. 1793 J. Turnbull in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) IV. 443, I hope..that circumstances in that distressed city may continue to meliorate. 1849 H. Miller Footpr. Creat. xii. (1874) 219 When the climate had greatly meliorated. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life i. (1861) 13 The face of the planet cools and dries, the races meliorate, and man is born. |
Hence ˈmeliorated ppl. a.; ˈmeliorating vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1649 W. Blithe Eng. Improv. Impr. xx. (1652) 132 All which as to all sorts of Land, they are of an exceeding Meliorating nature. 1665 Hooke Microgr. 246 Promoted by the meliorating of Glasses. 1692 R. L'Estrange Josephus, Wars of Jews iii. ii. (1733) 663 Great Plenty of Fruits, both wild, and meliorated or domestick. 1766 Complete Farmer s.v. Husbandry, To return the meliorated earth to the corn. 1783 Washington Circular 18 June, The free culivation of letters, the unbounded extension of commerce,..have had a meliorating influence on mankind. 1789 Burney Hist. Mus. IV. 350 The first movement in the overture is grave and grand, in Lulli's meliorated style, by Handel. |