Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEL'IOR-ATE, v.t. [Fr. ameliorer; Sp. mejorar; It. migliorare; from L. melior, better; W. mall, gain, profit; Ir. meall, good.]

To make better; to improve; as, to meliorate fruit by grafting, or soil by cultivation. Civilization has done much, but Christianity more, to meliorate the condition of men in a society. Nature by art we nobly meliorate. – Denham.