-ize
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English -isen (“-ise, -ize”), from Old French -iser (“-ize”), from Latin -izāre (“-ize”), from Ancient Greek -ιζειν (-izein), from Proto-Indo-European *-idj- (verbal suffix). Cognate with Gothic (-itjan, verbal suffix), Old High German -izzen (verbal suffix), Old English -ettan (verbal suffix). Also see notes.
[edit] Suffix
-ize
- Used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives, the verbs having the sense of "to make what is denoted by the noun/adjective".
[edit] Usage notes
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.
