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mel·io·rate

(mēlyə-rāt′, mēlē-ə-)

v. mel·io·rat·ed, mel·io·rat·ing, mel·io·rates

v.tr.

To make better; improve.

v.intr.

To grow better.

[Latin meliōrāre, meliōrāt-, from melior, better; see mel-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

melio·ra·ble (-rə-bəl) adj.

melio·ra′tive adj. & n.

melio·ra′tor n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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