'lyricize' originates from Modern English, formed from 'lyric' + the suffix '-ize' (from Greek via Latin/French), where '-ize' meant 'to make or to treat'.

'lyric' comes from Greek 'lyrikos' → Latin 'lyricus' → Middle English 'lyric'; the productive suffix '-ize' derives from Greek '-izein' via Latin and Old French ('-iser') into Modern English, and these elements combined to form 'lyricize'.

Initially the components referred to 'pertaining to song/lyre' and a verb-forming suffix meaning 'make or treat as'; combined, the formation came to mean 'to make into lyrics' or 'to render lyrical', which is its current usage.