Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN-CREASE', v.t.¹ [L. incresco; in and cresco, to grow, Fr. croître, Sp. crecer, It. crescere, Arm. cresqi. As the Latin pret. is crevi, this word and the Eng. grow, are probably of the same family. Class Rd, No. 59, 75.]

1. To become greater in bulk or quantity; to grow; to augment; as plants. Hence, to become more in number; to advance in value, or in any quality good or bad. Animal and vegetable bodies increase by natural growth; wealth increases by industry; heat increases, as the sun advances towards the meridian; a multitude increases by accession of numbers; knowledge increases with age and study; passion and enmity increase by irritation, and misery increases with vice. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another. 1 Thess. iii.
2. To become more violent; as, the fever increases; the pain increases; cold, wind or a storm increases.
3. To become more bright or vivid; as, the light increases.
4. To swell; to rise. The waters increased and bore up the ark. Gen. vii.
5. To swell; to become louder, as sound.
6. To become of more esteem and authority. He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii.
7. To enlarge, as the enlightened part of the moon's disk.