Expert: Ted Nesbitt - 1/24/2004

Question
Hello Ted,

I was wondering if you could help me with the affix "-ize". This means "to cause to be X" (symbolize, popularize).. I was wondering if this affix can only be used for words that are either adjectives OR nouns, but not both. For instance, "moral" has several parts of speech so it is problematic to add "-ize" to it?

Thank you for your time!

-Diana

Answer
Dear Diana:

Although I am no longer taking questions in the etymological area of Allexperts, I am making an exception for your question, because I find it intriguing.

There is an entry for the suffix in "Webster's Third International Unabridged Dictionary."  I am typing it in here:

-IZE -- The suffix -ize has been productive in English since the time of Thomas Nashe (1567-1601), who claimed credit for introducing it into English to remedy the surplus of monosyllabic words.  Almost any noun or adjective can be made into a verb by adding -ize (hospitalize) [NOUN], (familiarize)[ADJECTIVE]; many technical terms are coined this way (oxidize) as well as verbs of ethnic derivation (Americanize) and verbs derived from proper names (bowdlerize), (mesmerize).  Nashe noted in 1591 that his coinages in -ize were being complained about, and to this day new words in -ize (finalize), (prioritize) are sure to draw criticial fire.

So, Diana, the short answer to your question is ANY noun OR adjective can be made into a verb by adding the suffix "-ize."  Whether one SHOULD do so, however, is a problem.  I can see new words being coined that are really unnecessary.

Examples:  When the two skaters collided, it looked like they were trying to hockeyize the graceful sport of figure skating.  Many states began to Washingtonize their budgets, spending more money than they were taking into their treasuries.

Or, changing an adjective like this one:  He was a HANDSOME man.   His HANDSOMEIZED looks caught the ladies' eyes.  I would suggest that nouns are more amenable to this "adaption" than are adjectives.  In this case, HANDSOME is an adjective with which one should not tamper.

I'm going to check "The Oxford English Dictionary" in a little while.  If I find more information, I'll get back to you.  But, I doubt that the OED will have any more information that Webster's didn't already provide.

Ted Nesbitt

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