'augmenter' originates from French, specifically the word 'augmenter', where the root comes from Latin 'augmentare' and ultimately 'augere', which meant 'to increase'.

'augmentare' (Latin) passed into Old French as 'augmenter' and was later adopted into English as the noun/agent form 'augmenter' (via formation with the English suffix -er).

Initially related to the action 'to increase' (Latin 'augere'), it evolved into a noun meaning 'one or that which increases' (i.e., an agent or device that increases).