'arabise' originates from English formation combining the root 'Arab' (from the ethnonym for the people/language) with the verb-forming suffix '-ize'/'-ise' (from French '-iser' or late Latin '-izare'), resulting in a verb meaning 'to make Arabic.'

'Arab' itself comes into English via Latin and Greek (Latin 'Arabs', Greek 'Aráb'), originally from Arabic 'العَرَب' (al-ʿArab). The productive suffix '-ize' (eng. '-ise') was added in Modern English to form verbs such as 'arabize/arabise'; over time the modern English verb became 'arabize' (US) and 'arabise' (UK), with past forms 'arabized'/'arabised'.

Initially the base element referred simply to the people or language 'Arab', and with the addition of '-ize/-ise' it acquired the meaning 'cause to be Arabic' or 'adapt to Arabic'. This meaning has remained stable: to render something into Arabic or give it Arabic characteristics.