nōbĭlĭto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [nobilis].
I To make known, to render famous or renowned : disciplinā militari nobilitatus est, Nep. Iphic. 1, 1: poëtae post mortem nobilitari volunt, Cic. Tusc. 1, 15, 34: spectata ac nobilitata virtus, id. Fl. 26, 63: neque enim ex te umquam es nobilitatus, id. Sen. 9, 27: famam, Liv. 1, 16.—Also in an unfavorable sense, to render notorious : ne eam malefactis nobilitarent, Titin. ap. Non. 352, 8: stultum adulescentulum nobilitas flagitiis, Ter. Eun. 1021: Phalaris, cujus est nobilitata crudelitas, Cic. Off. 2, 7, 26: adulterio nobilitatus, Plin. 29, 1, 5, § 8.—
II To render excellent, to ennoble, improve : qui novitatem suam multis rebus nobilitaverat, Vell. 2, 96, 1: Auster vites nobilitat, Pall. 1, 6, 7: quae nobilitatos maritos non haberent, ne innobilitatae remanerent, Lampr. Heliog. 4, 3.