Sulfurise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To treat or combine a substance with sulfur or a sulfur-containing compound to alter its properties or composition
2. The chemical process of adding sulfur to a material to induce changes in structure or behavior
3. The act of subjecting a compound to sulfur or sulfur chemicals to produce a modified product with distinct characteristics

Etymology: The word is a plain formation: English "sulfur" with the verb-forming suffix "-ise," which carries a long chain of borrowing behind it. The suffix began in ancient Greek as "-izein," a verb ending used for actions of making or treating, and it passed through Late Latin "-izare" and Middle French "-iser" before reaching Middle English as "-isen." It is one of the most productive verb endings in English, which is why coinages like this one come so easily. The noun it attaches to has a more unusual history. "Sulphur" came into Middle English through Anglo-Norman "sulfre," itself descended from Latin "sulfur," and the Latin form has a much older, uncertain background. Chemists treat "sulfur" as the standard spelling today, while "sulphur" remains the preferred form in British usage, so "sulfurise" and "sulphurise" both appear in print. The verb follows the same pattern, with the American spelling dropping the "h."

Synonyms: sulfurize, sulphurize, sulphurise, sulfurate, sulphurate

Antonyms: desulfurize, remove sulfur