'arabize' originates from English, formed from 'Arab' + the suffix '-ize', where 'Arab' (from Arabic via Latin/Old French) referred to the Arab people or the Arabic language and '-ize' (from Greek -izein via Latin/French) meant 'to make or to render'.

'arabize' developed from earlier formation patterns such as Old French/Medieval Latin compounds like 'arabiser'/'arabizare' (built from 'Arab' + verbalizing suffix) and eventually became modern English 'arabize'.

Initially built simply as 'make or become Arab/Arabic', its use narrowed to 'render into Arabic (language, script, style)' in modern usage.