exaggerated
UK[ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtɪd]US[ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtɪd]
adj
made to seem larger, better, worse, or more important than it really is or needs to be.
adj
(of an action) done in an extreme or obvious way that is not natural.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
agger
ated
ex
out
agger
heap
ated
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'exaggerated' originates from the latin verb 'exaggerare', which meant "to heap up, pile up, accumulate". this verb was formed from the prefix 'ex-' (meaning "out, thoroughly") and 'agger' (meaning "heap, mound"). the literal sense was to pile earth or materials outward to form a mound or rampart. over time, the meaning shifted metaphorically from piling up physical material to piling on or amplifying qualities in speech or description. by the 16th century, it had entered english with its modern abstract sense of overstating or representing something beyond the limits of truth, effectively "heaping up" the facts.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + agger (heap) + ated (adjective suffix)
- ex: from latin, meaning "out, out of, thoroughly". a prefix indicating outward movement or intensification.
- agger: from latin 'agger', meaning "heap, mound, pile". a root denoting a mass or accumulation.
- ated: from latin '-atus', a past participle suffix forming adjectives meaning "characterized by, having the quality of".
Examples
she gave an exaggerated sigh of disappointment.
the threat was wildly exaggerated by the media.
he walked with an exaggerated swagger.