lexicalize

[ lek-si-kuh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, Linguistics.

, lex·i·cal·ized, lex·i·cal·iz·ing.

1. to convert (an affix, a phrase, etc.) into a lexical item, as in using the suffix -ism as the noun ism.
2. to represent (a set of semantic features) by a lexical item.

lexicalize

/ ˈlɛksɪkəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. linguistics to form (a word or lexeme) or (of a word or lexeme) to be formed from constituent morphemes, words, or lexemes, as to form cannot from can and not

Derived Forms

• ˌlexicaliˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• lexi·cal·i·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lexicalize¹

First recorded in 1935–40; lexical + -ize