-ize

-ize
a verb-forming suffix occurring originally in loanwords from Greek that have entered English through Latin or French (baptize; barbarize; catechize); within English, -ize is added to adjectives and nouns to form transitive verbs with the general senses "to render, make" (actualize; fossilize; sterilize; Americanize), "to convert into, give a specified character or form to" (computerize; dramatize; itemize; motorize), "to subject to (as a process, sometimes named after its originator)" (hospitalize; terrorize; galvanize; oxidize; simonize; winterize).
Also formed with -ize are a more heterogeneous group of verbs, usually intransitive, denoting a change of state (crystallize), kinds or instances of behavior (apologize; moralize; tyrannize), or activities (economize; philosophize; theorize).
Also, esp. Brit., -ise1. Cf. -ism, -ist, -ization.
[ < LL -izare < Gk -izein; r. ME -isen < OF -iser < LL, as above]
Usage. The suffix -IZE has been in common use since the late 16th century; it is one of the most productive suffixes in the language, and scores of words ending in -IZE are in daily use.
Some words ending in -IZE have been widely disapproved in recent years, particularly finalize (first attested in the early 1920's) and prioritize (around 1970). Such words are most often criticized when they become, as did these two, vogue terms, suddenly heard and seen everywhere, especially in the context of advertising, commerce, education, or government - forces claimed by some to have a corrupting influence upon the language.
The criticism has fairly effectively suppressed the use of finalize and prioritize in belletristic writing, but the words are fully standard and occur regularly in all varieties of speech and writing, especially the more formal types.
The British spelling, -ISE, is becoming less common in British English, especially in technical or formal writing, chiefly because some influential British publishers advocate or have adopted the American form -IZE.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ize — Izé Izé Administration Pays France Région Pays de la Loire Département Mayenne Arrondissement Mayenne Canton Bais …   Wikipédia en Français

  • -ize — ize, ise in verbs 1. spelling. The primary rule is that all words of the type authorize/authorise, civilize/civilise, legalize/legalise, where there is a choice of ending, may be legitimately spelt with either ize or ise throughout the English… …   Modern English usage

  • Izé — País …   Wikipedia Español

  • -ize — izesuff. [F. iser, L. izare, Gr. ?.] A verb suffix signifying to make, to do, to practice; as, apologize, baptize, theorize, tyrannize. [1913 Webster] Note: In the case of certain words the spelling with ise (after analogy with F. iser) is the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • IZE — may refer to:*International Zoo Educators, see http://www.izea.net/ *IZE, a DOS Personal computer text based management system *Initiating Zone Expander …   Wikipedia

  • -ize — (also ise) ► SUFFIX forming verbs meaning: 1) make or become: privatize. 2) cause to resemble: Americanize. 3) treat in a specified way: pasteurize. 4) treat or cause to combine with a specified substance: carbonize. 5) perform or subject… …   English terms dictionary

  • Izé — is a commune of the Mayenne département , in France.ee also*Communes of the Mayenne department …   Wikipedia

  • IZE — steht für: Interkulturelle zweisprachige Erziehung Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Ethik an der Europa Universität Viadrina Informationszentrale der Elektrizitätswirtschaft, eine Einrichtung für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der deutschen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ize — [ aız ] suffix 1. ) used with some nouns and adjectives to make verbs meaning to become or make something become something: decriminalize legalize industrialize liquidize 2. ) used with some nouns to make verbs meaning to put someone in a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • -ize — suffix forming verbs, M.E. isen, from O.Fr. iser, from L.L. izare, from Gk. izein. English picked up the French form, but partially reverted to the correct Greek z spelling from late 16c. In Britain, despite the opposition (at least formerly) of… …   Etymology dictionary

  • iže — ȋže m DEFINICIJA lingv. ime slova i u glagoljičkoj i ćiriličkoj azbuci, usp. i (2) …   Hrvatski jezični portal

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”