The word "heightened" (haɪtənd) refers to something that has been made greater or intensified in some way. Its spelling is based on the root word "height" (haɪt), which refers to the measurement of something from its base to its top. The addition of "-en" to the end of the word indicates a past participle form, which is often used to describe a change that has occurred to the subject of the sentence. In this case, "height" has been changed or increased, resulting in the word "heightened."
Heightened is an adjective that describes a state or condition in which something is intensified, increased, or elevated beyond its typical or usual level. It refers to a heightened state of being, perception, emotion, or awareness.
In terms of physical senses, heightened implies a heightened level of sensitivity, acuity, or sharpness. For example, a heightened sense of smell may allow someone to detect faint or subtle odors more easily than others. Similarly, a heightened sense of hearing may enable one to pick up on faint sounds or distant voices that are not readily audible to others.
In the realm of emotions and mental states, heightened refers to an intensified level of feeling or experience. It suggests an increased intensity of emotions such as excitement, joy, anger, fear, or sadness. This heightened emotional state could be triggered by various factors, such as an adrenaline rush, a significant event, or a strong attachment to a particular situation or person.
Heightened can also represent an enhanced level of awareness or consciousness. It implies a heightened level of attention, focus, or concentration that enables one to perceive and understand things more profoundly or deeply than usual. This heightened state of awareness can result from meditation, artistic inspiration, intense contemplation, or any activity that captivates the mind and expands one's consciousness.
Overall, heightened denotes an elevated or intensified state of being, whether it pertains to physical senses, emotions, or mental states, resulting in a more profound, acute, or profound perception or experience.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word heightened is derived from the base word heighten, which can be traced back to the Middle English word heyen or heythen, meaning to elevate or make higher. The Middle English term heyen itself was formed from the Old English word heah, which also meant high or tall. Ultimately, the Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word hauhaz.