dearabicize
|de-arab-i-ze|
/diːˈærəbɪsaɪz/
remove Arabic elements
Etymology
'dearabicize' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'de-' (from Latin 'de-' meaning 'away from' or 'remove'), the word 'Arabic' (ultimately from Arabic 'ʿArabī' meaning 'Arab'), and the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (from Greek/Latin usage meaning 'make or become').
'Arabic' entered English via Old French 'arabe' and Late Latin 'Arabicus' from Arabic 'al-ʿArabī'; 'dearabicize' is a modern English coinage combining these elements rather than evolving through medieval English stages.
Initially 'Arabic' meant 'relating to the Arabs'; the modern verb 'dearabicize' developed to mean 'remove Arabic characteristics' (i.e., reverse or remove what is 'Arabic' in form or influence).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of dearabicizing; removal of Arabic characteristics from language, names, texts, or other items.
Dearabicization of several place names took place during the language reform.
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Verb 1
to remove Arabic features (such as Arabic script, orthographic conventions, or other linguistic/cultural markers) from words, names, texts, or forms; to reverse Arabization.
The board decided to dearabicize the old maps by converting Arabic script into Latin letters.
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Last updated: 2025/12/31 13:31