ag·gra·vate /'a-grə-ˌvāt/ vt -vat·ed, -vat·ing: to make more serious, more severe, or worse
maliciousness aggravated the offense
aggravated her preexisting condition
aggravating factors compare mitigate
ag·gra·va·tion /ˌa-grə-'vā-shən/ n
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.