Monogamizes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To engage in the practice of exclusive partnership with one mate at a time; to adapt or convert a relationship structure to favor singular lifelong pairings; to exemplify or promote the state of mating with only one partner in a reproductive or social context
2. To adopt or maintain the condition of having only one mating partner simultaneously; to alter behavior or systems to support exclusive pair bonding; to signify commitment to a single partner within reproductive or romantic frameworks
3. To practice forming or sustaining relationships involving a single mate exclusively; to transform or evolve social or biological interactions toward singular partnerships; to demonstrate fidelity to one partner in breeding or intimate associations

Etymology: "Monogamize" is built from "monogamy," which comes from Greek "monogamia." That word joins "monos," meaning "single" or "alone," and "gamos," meaning "marriage." The same "gamos" root appears in "bigamy" (two marriages) and "polygamy" (many spouses), so the family of words sorts marriage by how many partners are involved. The ending "-ize" turns a noun into a verb meaning to make, become, or act in a certain way. Its ancestor is the Greek "-izein," which passed into Latin as "-izare" and then into English. Adding it to "monogamy" yields a verb for practicing or bringing about exclusive pairing, whether in people or in animals.

Synonyms: marries singly, pairs exclusively

Antonyms: polygamizes, marries multiple