Otherize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

  1. To perceive or treat someone as fundamentally different or alien; to create a division by emphasizing unfamiliarity or separateness; to marginalize or exclude based on differences
  2. To regard or classify an individual or group as strange or separate from oneself; to emphasize dissimilarity to establish distance; to alienate or isolate socially or culturally
  3. To define or identify someone as the outsider or foreigner; to highlight distinctions that segregate or differentiate; to impose a sense of non-belonging or estrangement upon others

Etymology: The verb in question emerged as a back-formation from the noun "other," which has long served as a way to denote something or someone distinct from oneself or a particular group. The idea behind this verb is to describe the act of treating a person or group as fundamentally different, alien, or outside the norm. This concept became especially prominent in the fields of sociology, psychology, and postcolonial studies during the 20th century, where "othering" described how dominant groups marginalize those they see as outsiders. Although the root "other" dates back to Old English "ōther," meaning "the second of two" or "different," the verbal form developed much later. It likely appeared in academic discourse sometime around the mid-20th century, as scholars sought a verb to capture the dynamic process of defining someone as "the other." This process implies both exclusion and dehumanization, marking a shift from simply identifying difference to actively imposing it. The suffix "-ize," borrowed from Greek through Latin and French, is commonly used in English to form verbs meaning "to make" or "to render into a state or condition." Applying it to "other" thus creates a verb meaning "to make other" or "to treat as other." This morphological formation is consistent with many English verbs that transform adjectives or nouns into actions. Overall, the verb encapsulates a social and psychological process that has gained importance in discussions about identity, power, and inclusion. Its formation is a clear example of how English adapts existing words with productive suffixes to express nuanced concepts that arise in cultural and intellectual contexts.

Synonyms: alienate, exclude, ostracize

Antonyms: include, accept, embrace