Definition of Latinize in US English:


(British Latinise)


[with object]
  • 1Give a Latin or Latinate form to (a word)

    ‘his name was Latinized into Confucius’
    • ‘Abraham Ortel, known by his Latinised name of Ortelius, was born in Antwerp on 4 April 1527.’
    • ‘The shortened, Latinised version of his name became Sancte Claus, which led to the obvious name of Santa Claus.’
    • ‘Jabir ibn Aflah is often known by the Latinised form of his name, namely Geber.’
    • ‘Colchester, whose name was now Latinized to Camulodunum, became the site of a substantial fortress for the Twentieth Legion.’
    1. 1.1archaic Translate into Latin.
    2. 1.2archaic no object Use Latin forms or idiom.
  • 2Make (a people or culture) conform to the ideas and customs of the ancient Romans, the Latin peoples, or the Latin Church.

    • ‘Jupiter promises to add the Teucrian rituals and mores, but to Latinize them.’
    • ‘Latin Americans don't want to Latinize the United States - they want to Americanize their own countries.’
    • ‘It was the winter of rebellion as the Marthomite Christians decided to resist what they called attempts to ‘Latinise’ the church in Kerala.’


Late 16th century: from late Latin Latinizare, from Latin Latinus (see Latin).