-ize
Contents |
English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English -isen (“-ise, -ize”), from Old French -iser (“-ize”), from Latin -izāre (“-ize”), from Ancient Greek -ίζειν (-izein), from Proto-Indo-European *-idyé- (verbal suffix). Cognate with Gothic (-itjan, verbal suffix), Old High German -izzen (verbal suffix), Old English -ettan (verbal suffix). Also see notes.
Suffix [edit]
-ize
- Used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives, the verbs having the sense of "to make what is denoted by the noun/adjective".
Usage notes [edit]
The suffix -ize has historically been used on words with Greek roots, while -ise for words that end in -vise, -tise, -cise, and -prise among others that from different roots (chiefly French). During the 19th century, -ise became a popular rendering of -ize in the UK under French influence. Today, hypercorrection has made -ize the American and Canadian spelling, and -ise the British spelling, respectively for many words from either root.
