Substantivises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To convert a word, adjective, verb or other element into a noun ; to treat a word or phrase as though it were functioning as a noun
2. Changing a term from another part of speech so that it works as a noun ; altering a word or phrase so it takes on the role of a noun
3. Forming a noun from another word class, or using some other element in the position of a noun ; making a word serve as a naming term

Etymology: This is the third-person singular form of "substantivise", a verb meaning to turn a word or phrase into a noun, or to treat something as if it were one. The verb is built from "substantive", which in grammar means a noun or a noun-like word, joined to the English verb-forming suffix "-ise" (spelled "-ize" in American English), which turns nouns and adjectives into verbs meaning to make or become something. So "substantivise" is, in effect, "to make into a substantive." The inflected form adds the "-s" ending that English verbs take when the subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun, so "substantivises" describes one thing doing the action: "the grammar book explains how an adjective substantivises when it takes an article."

Synonyms: nominalize, substantivize