See Also: naturalize(dictionary)
naturalize(dictionary)

naturalize (iou)



naturalize verb. Also naturalise. M16.
[French naturaliser, from natural: see NATURAL adjective, -IZE.]
I.
verb trans. Admit (an alien) to the position and rights of citizenship; invest with the privileges of a native-born subject. M16.
Malcolm X How many German-born naturalized Americans were herded behind barbed wire. D. Fraser Having been born at Bagneres he had ultimately to be naturalized. fig.: Steele My obligations..are such as might..naturalize me into the interests of it.
verb trans. Introduce or adopt (a word, practice, thing, etc.) into a country or into common use; introduce (an animal or plant) to a place where it is not indigenous, so that it appears native or wild. Freq. as naturalized ppl adjective. L16.
Southey To use a word which seems now to be naturalized, thus mystified.
verb intrans. & (now rare) refl. Become naturalized. M17.
II. verb trans. Familiarize, accustom, (in, to); convert to or into (something) by custom or familiarity. L16-M18.
verb trans. Make natural, cause to appear natural; free from conventionality; place on a naturalistic basis; remove the supernatural or miraculous from. E17.
verb intrans. Study natural history. L18.
naturali'zation noun M16.
naturalizer noun E19.