meliorate

[ meel-yuh-reyt, mee-lee-uh- ]

verb (used with or without object)

, mel·io·rat·ed, mel·io·rat·ing.

1. ameliorate.

meliorate

/ ˈmiːlɪəˌreɪt; ˈmiːlɪərətɪv /

verb

1. a variant of ameliorate

Derived Forms

• ˈmeliorable, adjective
• ˈmelioˌrator, noun
• meliorative, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• mel·io·ra·ble [meel, -yer-, uh, -b, uh, l, mee, -lee-er-, uh, -], adjective
• mel·io·ra·tive [meel, -y, uh, -rey-tiv, -yer-, uh, -tiv, mee, -lee-, uh, -rey-, -er-, uh, -], adjective
• melio·rator noun
• un·melio·rated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meliorate¹

1545–55; < Latin meliōrātus (past participle of meliōrāre ) to make better, improve, equivalent to meliōr- (stem of melior ) better + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

They must suppress the workings of British philanthropy, seeking to meliorate the condition of the unfortunate West Indian slave.

From Project Gutenberg

Some years ago several pious individuals undertook to meliorate the condition of the prisons.

From Project Gutenberg

Their adoption would promote the public service and meliorate the condition of the Army.

From Project Gutenberg

Why the hills behind Cladich, that people call tame, make a background that no art might meliorate.

From Project Gutenberg

May goodness, which thy heart did once enthrone, Emit one ray to meliorate my own!

From Project Gutenberg