arabising
|a-ra-bis-ing|
/ˈærəbaɪz/
(arabise / arabize)
make Arabic
Etymology
'arabize' originates from English, formed from 'Arab' (from Arabic 'Arab') combined with the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize' (ultimately from Greek '-izein' via Latin), where 'Arab' referred to the people/region and '-ize' meant 'to make or become'.
'Arab' entered English from Old French 'Arabe' and Medieval Latin 'Araba', and the modern verb 'arabize/arabise' was formed in English by adding the suffix '-ize/-ise' to that root to mean 'make into Arab/Arabic'.
Initially it referred specifically to making something related to the Arabs or Arabic language; over time it has been used more broadly for rendering text into Arabic script or adopting Arab/Arabic features.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or act of making something Arabic in language, script, or cultural form (gerund or verbal noun).
The arabising of older texts required expert knowledge of classical Arabic scripts.
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Antonyms
Verb 1
to make or render something Arabic in language, script, or cultural style; to convert text or names into Arabic form or to adopt Arabic characteristics.
They are arabising the street signs to include Arabic script alongside the Latin alphabet.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/31 22:59