liberalize
UK[ˈlɪb(ə)rəlaɪz]US[ˈlɪb(ə)rəˌlaɪz]
v
to make a law, rule, or system less strict.
v
to make an economy more open to free trade and private enterprise.
Morpheme Breakdown
liberal
ize
liberal
ize
to make, to become, to render
Etymology
the word 'liberalize' is a modern formation built upon the established english adjective 'liberal'. the core root 'liber' is latin for 'free', which itself is traced back to the proto-indo-european root leudh-, meaning 'to grow, to rise, to be free'. the suffix '-al' was added in latin to form 'liberalis', describing qualities associated with a free person, such as generosity and broad-mindedness. in the 18th and 19th centuries, this concept was applied to political and economic philosophies advocating for individual freedom. the verb-forming suffix '-ize', of ancient greek origin, was then appended to create 'liberalize', meaning 'to make (something) liberal'—that is, to introduce greater freedom into laws, systems, or economies.
Analysis
Structure: liberal + ize
liberal (from latin 'liberalis', meaning 'of freedom, befitting a free person', acting as the adjective root) + ize (from greek '-izein' via latin '-izare', a verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make, to become, to render').
Examples
the government plans to liberalize the visa application process.
many countries liberalized their financial markets in the 1990s.
the reforms aimed to liberalize trade and attract foreign investment.