Made or became higher, more intense, or more acute. Refers to increasing the degree or intensity of something.
From 'height' (Old English 'hiehthu') + '-en' (causative suffix) + '-ed' (past participle). The metaphorical use of 'height' for intensity reflects how we conceptualize greater intensity as literally 'higher.'
Our language consistently uses vertical metaphors for intensity - we have 'heightened awareness,' 'elevated mood,' and 'high anxiety.' This reflects a fundamental cognitive mapping where 'more' equals 'up' across cultures, suggesting something universal about how humans conceptualize intensity.
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