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lexicalize

[ lek-si-kuh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, Linguistics.
, lex·i·cal·ized, lex·i·cal·iz·ing.
  1. to convert (an affix, a phrase, etc.) into a lexical item, as in using the suffix -ism as the noun ism.
  2. to represent (a set of semantic features) by a lexical item.

lexicalize

/ ˈlɛksɪkəˌlaɪz /

verb

  1. linguistics to form (a word or lexeme) or (of a word or lexeme) to be formed from constituent morphemes, words, or lexemes, as to form cannot from can and not

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Derived Forms

  • ˌlexicaliˈzation, noun

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Other Words From

  • lexi·cal·i·zation noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lexicalize1

First recorded in 1935–40; lexical + -ize

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lexical insertionlexical meaning

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