serialize
UK[ˈsɪəriəlaɪz]US[ˈsɪriəlaɪz]
v
To arrange or publish something in a series of parts.
v
(computing) To convert data or an object into a format that can be stored or transmitted and later reconstructed.
Morpheme Breakdown
serial
ize
serial
series
ize
verb suffix
Etymology
The word "serialize" is a modern English formation built upon the noun "serial," which itself originates from the Latin "series," meaning a row, chain, or succession. The suffix "-ize," of ultimate Greek origin, is a productive verb-forming element meaning "to make or render." Therefore, the literal construction is "to make into a series." This logic perfectly maps to its primary meaning of arranging content into sequential installments. In the mid-20th century, with the rise of computing, the term was logically extended to the process of converting complex data structures into a sequential stream of bytes for storage or transmission, preserving the core concept of arranging elements in a linear order.
Analysis
Structure: serial (series) + ize (verb suffix)
- serial: From Latin 'series' (a row, chain, succession). Functions as the core root denoting a sequence.
- ize: A verb-forming suffix from Greek '-izein', via Latin '-izare' and French '-iser'. It means "to make, to become, or to practice."
Examples
The magazine decided to serialize the novel over twelve monthly issues.
The software needs to serialize the object before sending it across the network.
Early filmmakers would often serialize stories, ending each episode with a cliffhanger.