Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

decausativize

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: de-causativize
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To function in manner that is not causative (e.g. The causative verb "melt" in He melts the ice decausativizes in The ice melts).

Example Sentences

"Levin and Rappaport (1995) argue that causative verbs can decausativize when the eventualities described come about spontaneously without the external intervention of an agent."
"Now I am ready to answer the first question — which causative verbs decausativize and which don't."
"Conversely, in order to decausativize, the non-causative event must be be^([sic]) able to occur without an external cause (unlike, for example, being cut or being amused, which require an agent or instrument)."

Etymology

From de- + causative + -ize.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: de
Suffix: causative

Inflected Forms

decausativizes (present, singular) decausativizing (participle, present) decausativized (participle, past) decausativized (past) decausativise (alternative)

Questions

What does decausativize mean?: To function in manner that is not causative (e.g. The causative verb "melt" in He melts the ice decausativizes in The ice melts).
Where does decausativize come from?: From de- + causative + -ize.

How to pronounce decausativize

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