Adverbify

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To convert a word, usually an adjective or noun, into an adverb form; to modify or inflect in a way that creates an adverb; to turn something into a word that describes how an action is performed
2. Making a term function as an adverb, especially by altering its form or usage; changing a non-adverb so it expresses manner or degree; to produce an adverb from another part of speech
3. Transforming a word that is not originally an adverb into one that indicates circumstance or manner; inflecting or adapting language so it takes on the role of an adverb; using language processes to create adverbial meaning

Etymology: "Adverbify" is a plain, deliberate formation: English took the existing noun "adverb" and attached the verb-forming suffix "-ify" to it, producing a verb meaning to turn something into an adverb. The suffix itself has a long pedigree, reaching English through Old French "-ifier" from the Latin "-ificare", a combining form meaning "to make" that appears in such familiar verbs as "simplify" and "glorify". Adverb, for its part, comes from Latin "adverbium", built from "ad" ("to") and "verbum" ("verb"), reflecting its role of modifying verbs. The result is a word of transparent construction: it describes the action of making something function as an adverb, and it is used mainly in grammatical discussion, where writers talk about adverbifying an adjective such as "quick" into "quickly." Its meaning follows directly from its parts, with no shift in sense along the way.

Synonyms: adverbialize, adverbialize