largen
Very Low / ObsoleteArchaic, Poetic, Dialectal
Definition
Meaning
(Archaic/Regional) To make larger, enlarge, or to grow larger; an old verb form meaning to increase in size or extent.
It has largely fallen out of standard use, surviving in some regional dialects, poetry, or as a self-conscious archaic usage to mean 'to become large' or 'to enlarge'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A back-formation from the adjective 'large' and an older verb 'enlarge'. It's a rare example of a verb where a comparative form serves as a base for a verb. It carries a somewhat rustic or old-fashioned nuance when used today.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. May have slightly stronger historical attestation in British regional dialects.
Connotations
In both, it carries a strong archaic or dialectal flavor. Its use in modern contexts is highly marked and likely intentional for stylistic effect.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary corpora for both AmE and BrE. Found primarily in historical texts or poetic imitations of archaic speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] largens (transitive)[Subject] largens (intransitive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To largen one's heart (to become more generous)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary analysis of older/dialectal texts.
Everyday
Not used in standard speech. May be encountered as a humorous or poetic coinage.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He sought to largen his estate by purchasing the adjoining fields.
- Her heart seemed to largen with compassion for the stray creature.
American English
- The developer's plans would largen the shopping plaza considerably.
- In the tale, the hero's courage largens with each challenge.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- N/A - This word is not taught at A2 level.
- N/A - This word is not taught at B1 level.
- The poet used the archaic word 'largen' to give an old-fashioned feel to the verse.
- While 'enlarge' is standard, some dialects historically used 'largen'.
- The author's deliberate use of 'largen' in the narrative served to archaize the protagonist's speech, subtly signalling his rustic origins.
- Linguists note that 'largen' is a back-formation that never achieved the lexical stability of 'widen' or 'shorten'.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Large' wants to become a verb, so it adds '-(e)n' like 'widen' or 'lengthen' to become LARGEN.
Conceptual Metaphor
GROWTH IS PHYSICAL EXPANSION (The heart largens with joy; ambition largens like a balloon).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'large'. It is a verb, so a direct translation to a Russian adjective like 'большой' is incorrect. Requires a verbal phrase like 'делать больше', 'увеличивать(ся)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal/modern writing. Assuming it's a standard synonym for 'enlarge'. Incorrectly conjugating as 'largened' instead of 'largened' (both archaic).
Practice
Quiz
The word 'largen' is best described as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a historical word, recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary, but it is now considered archaic, dialectal, or poetic. It is not part of modern standard English.
Generally, no. Unless you are writing historical fiction, poetry with an archaic style, or specifically discussing the word itself, you should use standard alternatives like 'enlarge', 'expand', or 'increase'.
The attested historical past tense and past participle is 'largened', following the regular pattern (e.g., 'He largened the hole').
'Enlarge' (from Old French 'enlargir') entered English earlier and became the standard. 'Largen', a later native English formation from 'large', remained non-standard and eventually faded from common use.