Africanized

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing something that has been influenced, adapted, or modified to reflect African characteristics or culture; referring to the process of adopting traits associated with Africa or its peoples; indicating incorporation of African elements into a different context
2. Pertaining to the transformation or alteration of an object, concept, or species to embody African features or qualities; relating to the cultural or biological adaptation inspired by African origins; signifying the infusion of African identity in various forms
3. Characterizing the change caused by the introduction or integration of African attributes; denoting the process by which something becomes representative of African heritage or style; expressing the spread or influence of African traits in a non-African setting

Etymology: "Africanized" is the past form of "Africanize," which combines "African" with the suffix "-ize," a common way of turning a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make or become like." So the word literally means "made African" or "given African characteristics," and the adjective describes something that has been changed to take on those qualities. The suffix does most of the work here. "-Ize" came into English through Latin and Greek, where it helped form verbs such as "civilize" and "modernize," and English speakers have applied it freely to many place-based and people-based stems. The base "African" is the older and more straightforward part of the word. Because "Africanized" is a participle used as an adjective, its meaning depends on the verb it comes from. Its use is most often tied to the transformation of something already existing, such as a culture, institution or animal population, rather than to the origin of the thing itself.

Synonyms: hybrid, crossbred, mixed

Antonyms: purebred, unmixed