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Glite Dictionary
🔤 To sort by letters 📝 To create an alphabet
to alphabetize

to alphabetize

4.6
Make a set of letters so people can write a language
  • verb
  • /ˈælfəˌbɛtaɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alfabetizar
  • Linguists worked to alphabetize the indigenous language, making it easier to read and write.

Examples

  • After years of study, she helped alphabetize the local language by developing a suitable script.

  • The missionaries sought to alphabetize the spoken dialects they encountered.

  • We need to alphabetize these documents.

  • The teacher alphabetized the list of students.

  • After extensive research, they worked to alphabetize the local dialect by creating a written form.

  • The committee aimed to alphabetize the native language, which would help preserve its culture.

  • To facilitate learning, the linguist decided to alphabetize the oral traditions in a new script.

Surface Forms

alphabetize infinitive
alphabetized past
alphabetized past participle
alphabetizing present participle
alphabetizes third person singular

Morphology

alphabetize = alphabet (transparent) = alphabet + ize

The verb meaning 'to provide with an alphabet' follows the regular 'noun + -ize = make/provide' pattern and is thus directly interpretable.

Etymology

Alphabetize can also mean to give a language an alphabet. It comes from alphabet and the ending -ize ('to make'), so to alphabetize a language is to create a set of letters people can use to read and write.