aggrandize

[Klimt]

aggrandize
[uh-gran-dahyz, ag-ruhn-dahyz]

1. to widen in scope; increase in size or intensity; enlarge; extend.

2. to make great or greater in power, wealth, rank, or honor.

3. to make (something) appear greater.

It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it; nay, absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for the purposes and objects merely personal, such as thirst for military glory, revenge for personal affronts, ambition, or private compacts to aggrandize or support their particular families or partisans.

aggrandize one argument while belittling another.

Aborigines, unlike hunter-gathers in some other parts of the world...did not aggrandize food or other key resources in anticipation of future shortages.

There arose a great wave of patriotism for this Prussia which had disdained to aggrandize itself with the help of a foreign dictator.

[Slava]

Excellent word, though one I've always felt carried a hint of being pejorative. Especially given the phrase self-aggrandizement.