crystallize
UK[ˈkrɪstəlaɪz]US[ˈkrɪstəˌlaɪz]
v
to form crystals or cause something to form crystals
v
to become clear and definite in form or to make an idea, plan, etc. clear and definite
Morpheme Breakdown
crystal
ize
crystal
crystal
ize
verb suffix
Etymology
the word crystallize is a relatively modern formation, built upon the much older noun "crystal." the noun itself has a poetic origin in ancient greek, where "krustallos" originally meant "ice," reflecting the ancient belief that clear quartz was a form of permanently frozen water. this term passed into latin as "crystallum" and into old french as "cristal," before entering english. the productive verb-forming suffix "-ize," of greek origin, was appended to this base in the late 16th century. the verb's meaning logically evolved from the literal process of forming a solid, geometrically structured crystal from a liquid or solution, to the metaphorical process where vague thoughts or plans solidify into a clear, definite, and structured form.
Analysis
Structure: crystal (crystal) + ize (verb suffix)
crystal (from latin 'crystallum', from greek 'krustallos', meaning "ice, crystal") + ize (verb-forming suffix from greek '-izein', via latin '-izare' and old french '-iser')
Examples
the dissolved sugar began to crystallize on the string.
after hours of discussion, our strategy finally began to crystallize.
the memoir helped crystallize her thoughts about that period in her life.