magnifying
UK[ˈmæɡnɪfaɪɪŋ]US[ˈmæɡnɪfaɪɪŋ]
adj
Making something appear larger than it is, especially by using a lens.
verb (present participle)
To make something appear larger than it is. To make a problem or issue seem more important or serious than it really is.
Morpheme Breakdown
magn
i
fying
magn
great
i
to make, to do
fying
making
Etymology
The word 'magnifying' is built upon the Latin root magnus, meaning 'great'. This root is combined with the verb-forming element derived from facere, 'to make'. The literal sense is therefore 'making great' or 'making large'. Over time, this core meaning evolved from a general sense of enlargement to the specific optical sense of making an object appear larger to the eye, and further to the metaphorical sense of exaggerating or intensifying the perceived importance of an issue.
Analysis
Structure: magn (great) + i + fying (making)
'magn' is from Latin magnus, meaning 'great, large'. The connecting vowel 'i' is a common Latin-derived linking element. 'fying' is from the Latin verb facere, meaning 'to make, to do', and represents the present participle form '-fying' (making).
Examples
She used a magnifying glass to read the tiny print.
The media has a tendency of magnifying minor incidents into major scandals.
His anxiety was magnifying the perceived threat, making it seem far worse than it was.