Romanize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To transcribe text from another script into the Roman alphabet using standard rules
2. To represent characters of a non-Roman writing system in Latin letters
3. To change written language symbols into the Roman script for easier reading or pronunciation

Etymology: The verb "romanize" is a plain formation: it combines "Roman," the adjective for the alphabet of ancient Rome's language, with the suffix "-ize," which turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make into" or "to treat in the manner of." Using "Roman" as the base, the verb means to render writing from another script in the letters of the Latin alphabet. The suffix has a longer history than the English word itself. It descends from ancient Greek verbs ending in "-izein," which passed into Latin as "-izare" and then into the Romance languages, reaching English through Middle French and Middle English before settling as the productive "-ize" suffix. English speakers have used it freely ever since, which is why it appears in so many coinages, from "computerize" to "standardize."