standardize
Meaning
to cause something to conform to a standard.
to compare or test against a standard.
Structure
Usage
the industry agreed to standardize the plug design for all new devices.
we need to standardize our testing procedures to ensure reliable results.
the software update will standardize the file formats across different platforms.
Etymology
the word 'standardize' is a modern formation built upon the noun 'standard'. the noun 'standard' entered english from old french, where it originally referred to a military or royal banner serving as a rallying point. this concrete sense of an established emblem evolved metaphorically into an authoritative model or measure of quality. the suffix '-ize', of ancient greek origin, was productively attached to nouns in english from the early modern period onward to create verbs meaning 'to make conform to' or 'to treat in a specified way'. thus, 'standardize' literally means 'to make into a standard', capturing the process of establishing uniformity and consistency against an agreed-upon benchmark.
Analysis
- standard: from old french estandard, meaning a rallying point or flag. ultimately of germanic origin, related to 'stand'. functions as the root noun denoting a model or criterion. - ize: from greek -izein via latin -izare and french -iser. a verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make, to become, to practice'.