gentilize

English

Etymology

From gentile +‎ -ize.

Verb

gentilize (third-person singular simple present gentilizes, present participle gentilizing, simple past and past participle gentilized)

1. (transitive) To render (something) gentile or gentlemanly.
   • 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas], “[Du Bartas His First VVeek, or Birth of the VVorld: […].] The Third Daie of the First VVeek.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 73:

     You Marchant Mercers, and Monopolites, / Gain-greedy Chap-men, periur'd Hypocrites, / Diſſembling Broakers, made of all deceipts, / VVho falſifie your Meaures and your VVeights, / T' enrich you ſelues, and your vnthrifty Sons / To Gentillize with proud poſſeſſions: […]

2. (intransitive) To live like a gentile or heathen.

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for “gentilize”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.)

Italian

Adjective

gentilize f

1. feminine plural of gentilizo