to confer honor or dignity upon; honor; ennoble.

to give a high-sounding title or name to; confer unmerited distinction upon

to dignify pedantry by calling it scholarship.

verb

belittle , condemn , degrade , demote , detract , disgrace , humiliate , insult , shame

verb

adorn , advance , aggrandize , distinguish , elevate , ennoble , erect , exalt , grace , honor , magnify , prefer , promote , raise , sublime , uprear , apotheosize , glorify , uplift