sentimentalize

The word 'sentimentalize' is a modern English formation built upon the noun 'sentiment,' which traces back to the Latin verb sentire, meaning "to feel" or "to perceive." This Latin root itself is believed to originate from the Proto-Indo-European root sent-, meaning "to head for" or "to go," which metaphorically extended to the concept of mental direction and feeling. The suffix '-al' transforms the noun into the adjective 'sentimental,' describing something characterized by tender, nostalgic, or exaggerated feelings. Finally, the productive suffix '-ize' is appended to create a verb meaning "to make or render sentimental," capturing the action of imposing or indulging in such feelings, often to an excessive degree.

Structure: sentiment (feeling) + al (adjective suffix) + ize (verb suffix) - sentiment: From Latin sentimentum (feeling, opinion), from sentire (to feel). Functions as the core noun root. - al: A suffix of Latin origin (-alis) used to form adjectives meaning "of or pertaining to." - ize: A verb-forming suffix of Greek origin (-izein) via Latin and French, meaning "to make, to become, to subject to."