'anglicise' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Anglicus', where 'Angli-' meant 'English' and the suffix '-ize/-ise' (from Greek '-izein' via Old French '-iser') meant 'to make or to become'.

'anglicise' changed from Old French 'angliciser' and Middle English forms such as 'anglicisen', and eventually became the modern English word 'anglicise' (with the US spelling 'anglicize').

Initially, it meant 'to make or render English', and over time it has retained that core meaning though it is also used more broadly for adapting words, names, or cultural items into English conventions.