Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
-ize
-ize
s
uff.
[F.
-iser
, L. -izare
, Gr. [GREEK].] A verb suffix signifying
to make
, to do
, to practice
; as, apolog
. ize
, baptize
, theorize
, tyrannize
☞ In the case of certain words the spelling with -ise (after analogy with F. -iser) is the usual form; as, catechise, criticise. With regard to most words, however, which have this suffix there is a diversity of usage, some authorities spelling -ise, others (as in this book) -ize.
Definition 2024
-ize
-ize
English
Alternative forms
- -ise (non-Oxford British spelling)
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".
Usage notes
- The suffix -ize has historically been used on words originating from Greek. -ise was used, especially as -vise, -tise, -cise, and -prise, on words that come from various roots (usually via French). In the 19th century, it became common in the United Kingdom (due to French influence) to use -ise also on words that had historically been spelled -ize. -ise is also common in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. -ize remains, however, the spelling used by the influential Oxford University Press; it has also always been the spelling used in the United States and Canada.
Derived terms
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_suffixed_with_-ize'>English words suffixed with -ize</a>