Ex*ag"ger*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exaggerated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Exaggerating . ] [L. exaggeratus , p. p. of exaggerare to heap up; ex out + aggerare to heap up, fr. agger heap, aggerere to bring to; ad to + gerere to bear. See Jest. ]

1.

To heap up; to accumulate.

[Obs.] "Earth exaggerated upon them [oaks and firs]."

Sir M. Hale.

2.

To amplify; to magnify; to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth ; to delineate extravagantly ; to overstate the truth concerning.

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues. Addison.

 

© Webster 1913.