Intransitivizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of transforming a transitive verb into one that does not take a direct object; causing a verb to function without requiring a direct receiver of the action; modifying verbs to express actions or states that stand alone without acting upon another element
2. Changing verbs so they no longer need a direct object to complete their meaning; converting action words to forms that indicate no object is involved; adjusting verb forms to represent actions or conditions performed independently without a target
3. Altering verb usage to remove the need for an object following the verb; turning verbs into forms that express intransitive action or existence; adapting verbs to describe actions that do not extend onto other entities or things

Etymology: "Intransitivizing" is the present participle of "intransitivize," a verb built from the adjective "intransitive" and the suffix "-ize." The adjective "intransitive" comes from Late Latin "intransitivus," itself formed from the Latin prefix "in-" meaning "not" and "transitivus," from "transire," to go across. A transitive verb carries its action across to an object, so an intransitive verb is one whose action does not cross over to anything. The suffix "-ize," from Greek "-izein" through Latin "-izare," turns a base word into a verb meaning "to make into" or "to treat in a certain way." Put together, "intransitivize" means to make a verb intransitive, so the word describes the act of taking a verb that normally needs an object and using it without one. English speakers often do this with verbs like "eat" or "read," which can stand alone as in "she reads every night."

Synonyms: making intransitive, intransitivize

Antonyms: transitivizing, making transitive, transitivize