aggrandizement

[In Fr. aggran di ement.] The act of aggrandizing; an exalting of one in power, wealth, rank, or reputation; also the state of being aggrandized. "Instead of harbouring any schemes of selfish aggrandizement, he [Solon] bent all his thoughts and energies to the execution of the great task tas which he had undertaken."- Thirl wall : Hist. of Greece, ch. xi. "The opportunity creates the wish, and we hear schemes of territorial aggrandizement attributed to Powers whose obvious interests might have been thought a sufficient guarantee of their moderation."- Times , Nov. 16, 1877.