latinization
|lat-i-ni-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌlætɪnaɪˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌlætɪnəˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/
making something Latin
Etymology
'latinization' originates from Modern English formation combining the adjective 'Latin' with the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (from Greek '-izein' via Latin '-izare' and Old French '-iser') and the noun suffix '-ation'.
'Latin' ultimately comes from Latin 'Latinus' (of Latium, the region) and 'Latium'; the verb-forming suffix traces back through Middle English and Old French influences before stabilizing in Modern English as '-ize'/'-ise', producing 'latinize' and then 'latinization'.
Initially it referred broadly to making something related to Latium/Late Roman/Latin culture; over time it has come to mean both cultural/liturgical adaptation and specifically the conversion of words or scripts into the Latin (roman) alphabet.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of making something Latin in form, character, or language; converting to Latin language, style, or alphabet (sometimes used interchangeably with 'romanization' for script conversion).
The latinization of place names on maps made them easier for Western readers to pronounce.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the adoption or imposition of Latin cultural, liturgical, or legal forms (historical/sociocultural sense).
Scholars discussed the latinization of local liturgies during the medieval church reforms.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/31 22:49