Where does “generalize” come from?
Generalize derives from English general, from Middle English general, from Middle French general, from Latin generalis meaning "of or pertaining to a whole kind or class," formed from Latin generalis suffix -alis and the Proto-Indo-European root ǵenh₁- meaning "to produce or beget."
generalize (English): To speak in generalities, or in vague terms; To...
Definitions
- To speak in generalities, or in vague terms; To...
Ancestry of “generalize”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ize | Used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives |
| 2 | Middle English | -isen | -ise, -ize |
| 3 | Middle French | -iser | -ize |
| 4 | Latin | -izō | Used to form similative verbs from nouns and adjectives |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -ίζω | Used to form verbs from nouns, adjectives and... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | -íďďō | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -idyéti | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 10 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |