secularize

The word 'secularize' is built upon the Latin root saeculum, which originally meant "generation" or "age" and evolved to signify "the world" or "the present age," in contrast to the eternal. The adjective 'secular' thus came to denote things pertaining to the worldly, temporal sphere, separate from sacred or ecclesiastical affairs. The addition of the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize', borrowed ultimately from Greek, creates the meaning "to make worldly." Therefore, the etymological logic traces a path from the concept of a temporal age to the modern abstract sense of removing religious affiliation or character.

Structure: secular (worldly) + ize (verb-forming suffix) secular: From Latin saecularis (relating to an age or the world), from saeculum (generation, age, world). Functions as the core adjective meaning "worldly, non-religious". ize: A verb-forming suffix from Greek -izein via Latin -izare and French -iser. It means "to make, to become, to practice".