majorate

English

Etymology 1

From Latin māiōrō (“to augment”), derived from Latin māior. By surface analysis, major +‎ -ate (verb-forming suffix). See major (adjective).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Verb

majorate (third-person singular simple present majorates, present participle majorating, simple past and past participle majorated)

1. (obsolete) To augment; to increase.
   • 1660, James Howell, Parley of Beasts:

     The Embryo […] proceeds to majoration and augmentation accordingly. And it is […] an absurdity to think, that the Infant after conception should be majorated by the influence of any other Soul then that from whom he received his formation.

Etymology 2

From major (noun) +‎ -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

majorate (plural majorates)

1. (military) The office or rank of a major.

   Synonym: majorship

References

• “majorate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.