godan verb (-su)
modernize; make something look contemporary
Rare verb; usually used in the sense of giving something a modern or up-to-date appearance or style. Often appears in literary or descriptive contexts.
古い町並みをいまめかすのは難しい。
It is difficult to modernize an old townscape.
More common and formal term for modernization, especially in social, industrial, or systemic contexts. いまめかす is rarer and focuses on making something look or feel contemporary.
Derived from 今 (いま, 'now') + めかす (suffix meaning 'to make look like'). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it follows a pattern of creating verbs meaning 'to give the appearance of something'.