The Collaborative International Dictionary
Heighten \Height"en\ (h[imac]t"'n), v. t. [Written also highten.] [imp. & p. p. Heightened; p. pr. & vb. n. Heightening.]
To make high; to raise higher; to elevate.
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To carry forward; to advance; to increase; to augment; to aggravate; to intensify; to render more conspicuous; -- used of things, good or bad; as, to heighten beauty; to heighten a flavor or a tint. ``To heighten our confusion.''
--Addison.An aspect of mystery which was easily heightened to the miraculous.
--Hawthorne.
Wiktionary
n. The act by which something is heightened or increased. vb. (present participle of heighten English)
WordNet
adj. reaching a higher intensity; "their heightening fears" [syn: heightening(a)]
Usage examples of "heightening".
How many deliberate heightenings of dialect, breaches of conversational taste, gaucheries at table had Stencil seen dedicated to that intention?
How many deliberate heightenings of dialect, breaches of conversational taste, gaucheries at table had Stencil seen dedicated to that intention?
Grant and Miss Crawford, in a very handsome style, with all the heightenings of imagination and all the laughs of playfulness which are so essential to the shade of a departed ball, she could afterwards bring her mind without much effort into its every-day state, and easily conform to the tranquillity of the present quiet week.