augmented

the word 'augmented' originates from the latin verb augēre, meaning 'to increase, enlarge, or enrich'. this root is ancient, traceable to proto-indo-european h₂ewg- ('to increase'), which also gave rise to words like 'author' and 'auxiliary'. the latin past participle form augmentum entered english via old french augmenter. the modern english adjective 'augmented' applies this core concept of increase to physical quantities, values, and, in a specialized musical context, to intervals that have been enlarged by a semitone, demonstrating a clear semantic evolution from a general act of making larger to specific technical and abstract applications.

Structure: augment + ed augment (from latin augmentum, meaning 'increase', from the verb augēre, 'to increase'); ed (english past participle suffix, forming adjectives).