increased

the word 'increased' originates from the latin verb 'increscere', meaning 'to grow in or upon', which is composed of the prefix 'in-' and the verb 'crescere' (to grow). the past participle form of this verb, 'increas', was adopted into middle english via old french 'encreistre'. the modern english form 'increased' combines this root with the common english adjectival suffix '-ed', which here denotes the state resulting from the action of increasing. thus, the literal sense of 'having been caused to grow upon' evolved into the modern abstract meaning of having been made larger or more numerous.

Structure: in (in, on) + creas (grow) + ed (adjective suffix) in- (latin, prefix meaning 'in, on, upon'); creas (latin root 'crescere', meaning 'to grow'); -ed (old english, suffix forming adjectives from verbs or nouns, indicating a state or condition).