pluralizev.
/ˈplʊərəlʌɪz/, /ˈplʊərl̩ʌɪz/, /ˈplɔːrəlʌɪz/, /ˈplɔːrl̩ʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈplʊrəˌlaɪz/ 1. transitive. To multiply; to make plural or multiform; to attribute plurality to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)]
echeOE
ekec1200
multiplya1275
morea1300
increase13..
vaunce1303
enlargec1380
augmenta1400
accrease1402
alargea1425
amply?a1425
great?1440
hainc1440
creasec1475
grow1481
amplea1500
to get upa1500
improve1509
ampliatea1513
auge1542
over1546
amplify1549
raise1583
grand1602
swell1602
magnoperate1610
greaten1613
accresce1626
aggrandize1638
majoratea1651
adauge1657
protend1659
reinforce1660
examplify1677
pluralize1750
to drive up1817
to whoop up1856
to jack up1884
upbuild1890
steepen1909
up1934
1750 T. Seward in F. Beaumont & T. Fletcher Wks. I. Pref. p. lxiii The Passion of Fear is not only personiz'd, but ev'n pluraliz'd: the Imagination holds many Fears, and Antony's Spirit becomes one of them.
1854 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 520/1 Gulliver, to magnify present times, pluralises them all and each.
1951 Theology 54 337 The dazzling simplicity of his being is extended and shaded and pluralized through the variety of his works.
1992 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 22 Mar. 7/1 Society has been immigrated and integrated, agitated and liberated, pluralized and multiculturized.
2. Grammar.
a. transitive. To make (a word) plural; to express in the plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > make plural [verb (transitive)]
pluralize1765
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > use other category or concept [verb (transitive)] > make or express in plural
pluralize1765
1765 J. Elphinston Princ. Eng. Lang. 230 A title or other specifier, prefixed to a name, is held a conjunct part of it, and so the name alone is pluralised.
1803 Monthly Mag. 15 3 We cannot well avoid the use of many ancient words unaltered, as English nouns; but I would lay it down as a rule, never to pluralize them by inflection, but simply by the addition of the s or es.
1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue vii. 318 Those words which we have adopted from Latin or Greek..unaltered, have usually been pluralised according to Greek and Latin grammar.
1921 E. Sapir Lang. vi. 142 We can pluralize it: inikw-ihl-'minih; it is still either ‘fires in the house’ or ‘burn plurally in the house’.
2004 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 3 Nov. 13 How someone who has studied the subject for two years is still unable to pluralise ‘business’ is a mystery.
b. intransitive. Of a word or phrase: to become plural; to assume plural form. rare.
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the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > use other category or concept [verb (intransitive)] > express or form plural > become plural
pluralize1871
1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue xi. 503 Any parts of speech will assume in compounding the substantive character, and will pluralise as such.
1894 Amer. Jrnl. Philol. 15 429 Instrumentals in -bhi, -mhi are used as sg. or pl., or pluralize by adding -s.
1991 Language 67 68 Wine in this count-noun sense is a common rather than a proper noun; and it behaves accordingly (e.g., it pluralizes and occurs with determiners).
c. intransitive. To express or form the plural.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > use other category or concept [verb (intransitive)] > express or form plural
pluralize1963
1963 ‘A. Burgess’ Inside Mr. Enderby 41 ‘Female admirers,’ said carving Arry, pluralizing easily.
1993 Eng. Today Apr. 55/2 It is no longer socially acceptable to use he or his as gender-neutral pronouns... Instead, we are advised where possible to pluralize.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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