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Glite Dictionary
to detransitivize

to detransitivize

9.9
To make a verb stop taking an object or to become that way
  • verb
  • /ˌdɛtrænˈsɪtɪvaɪz/
  • Specialized
: destransitivizar
  • Linguists sometimes detransitivize verbs to analyze their syntactic properties.

Examples

  • The linguist decided to detransitivize the verb for clarity.

  • The process to detransitivize a verb is common in language change and grammar studies.

  • In this example, you can detransitivize the verb by deleting its direct object.

  • The process of detransitivizing a verb can change its meaning.

  • In this example, you can detransitivize the verb by deleting its direct object.

  • Linguists sometimes detransitivize verbs to analyze their syntactic properties.

  • The process to detransitivize a verb is common in language change and grammar studies.

Synonyms

to intransitivize
vsto detransitivize
  • Specialized
9.9

Make a verb not take a direct object

is the same concept but used specifically as a linguistics term

Antonyms

to transitivize
  • Specialized
9.9

To change a verb so it can take a direct object

Surface Forms

detransitivize infinitive
detransitivized past
detransitivized past participle
detransitivizing present participle
detransitivizes third person singular

Morphology

detransitivize = transitivize (semi-transparent) = de + transitive + ize

The prefix 'de-' attaches to the verb 'transitivize' to produce the opposite action; this is a regular prefixation.

Etymology

Detransitivize breaks into de- meaning 'remove' and transitive meaning 'a verb that takes an object'. So to detransitivize a verb is to 'remove' its object and make it not take a direct object anymore.