neutralise
UK[ˈnjuːtrəlaɪz]US[ˈnuːtrəlaɪz]
v
To stop something from having an effect, often by creating an opposite effect.
v
To make a substance chemically neutral, neither an acid nor a base.
v
To make a country or area neutral by international agreement, especially in wartime.
Morpheme Breakdown
neutr
al
ise
neutr
neither
al
relating to
ise
to make
Etymology
The word's journey begins with the Latin adjective neuter, meaning "neither of two". This term was adopted into English as "neutral" via French, describing a state of non-alignment or chemical balance. The addition of the productive verb-forming suffix -ise, borrowed ultimately from Greek, transformed the adjective into an action verb. Thus, the literal meaning "to make neither" evolved into the modern abstract senses of rendering something ineffective, chemically balanced, or politically non-aligned.
Analysis
Structure: neutr (neither) + al (relating to) + ise (to make)
- neutr: From Latin neuter ("neither"), from ne- ("not") + uter ("either"). Functions as the core root indicating a state of being neither one thing nor the other.
- al: From Latin -alis (adjective-forming suffix). Functions as a suffix to form the adjective "neutral" from the root.
- ise: From Greek -izein via Latin -izare and French -iser (verb-forming suffix). Functions as a suffix meaning "to render, to make, to become".
Examples
The antidote works to neutralise the poison in the bloodstream.
You can neutralise the acidic solution by adding a base.
The great powers agreed to neutralise the small border region to prevent conflict.