ameliorate

views updated Jun 08 2018

a·me·lio·rate / əˈmēlyəˌrāt; əˈmēlēə-/ • v. [tr.] make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better: the reform did much to ameliorate living standards.DERIVATIVES: a·me·lio·ra·tion / əˌmēlyəˈrāshən/ n.a·me·lio·ra·tive / -rətiv; -ˌrātiv/ adj.a·me·lio·ra·tor / -ˌrātər/ n.

ameliorate

views updated Jun 11 2018

ameliorate XVIII. alt. of earlier MELIORATE after F. améliorer.