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Origin and history of modify

modify(v.)

late 14c., modifien, "alter, amend, adjust, change the properties, form, or function of;" also "set limits, keep within the bounds of reason; choose a middle course," from Old French modifier (14c.), from Latin modificare "to limit, measure off, restrain," from modus "measure, manner" (from PIE root *med- "take appropriate measures") + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Related: Modified; modifying.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to modify

modification(n.)

c. 1500, in philosophy, "determination by a mode or quality," from French modification (14c.) and directly from Latin modificationem (nominative modificatio) "a measuring," noun of action from past-participle stem of modificare (see modify). Sense of "a result of a variation or alteration" is from 1660s. Meaning "act or process of altering in character, form, or function" is from 1774.

modifier(n.)

1580s, "one who or that which modifies," agent noun from modify. Grammatical sense of "word, phrase, or clause which modifies another" is from 1865.

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transmogrify
"change completely, transform into some other person or thing as if by magic," 1650s, a word of unknown origin. Century Dictionary describes its usage as "humorous and contemptuous" and suggests it might be based on transform. In 17c. and 18c. it also appeared as transmography. O
change
c. 1200, "to alter, make different, change" (transitive); early 13c. as "to substitute one for another;" mid-13c. as "to make (something) other than what it was, cause to turn or pass from one state to another;" from late 13c. as "to become different, be altered" (intransitive),
alter
late 14c., "to change (something), make different in some way," from Old French alterer "to change, alter," from Medieval Latin alterare "to change," from Latin alter "the other (of the two)," from PIE root *al- (1) "beyond" + comparative suffix -ter (as in other). Intransitive s
temper
late Old English temprian "to moderate, bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain...But as the root sense of tempus seems to be "stretch," the words in the "restrain, modify" sense might be from a semantic...
temperature
from Latin temperatura "a tempering, moderation," from temperatus, past participle of temperare "to mix in due proportion, modify...
so-called
accept the name, either because he regards it as erroneous or misleading, or because he wishes for his particular purpose to modify...
conformity
conformitatem (nominative conformitas), from conformis "similar in shape," from conformare "to fashion, to form, to shape; educate; modify...
civilize
c. 1600, "to bring out of barbarism, introduce order and civil organization among, refine and enlighten," from French civiliser, verb from Old French civil (adj.), from Latin civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting a citizen; popular, affable, courteous
bring
Old English bringan "to bear, convey, take along in coming; bring forth, produce, present, offer" (past tense brohte, past participle broht), from Proto-Germanic *brangjanan (source also of Old Frisian branga "attest, declare, assure," Middle Dutch brenghen, Old High German bring
charge
early 13c., chargen, "to load, put a burden on or in; fill with something to be retained," from Old French chargier "to load, burden, weigh down," from Late Latin carricare "to load a wagon or cart," from Latin carrus "two-wheeled wagon" (see car). The senses of "entrust," "comma

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