Alphabetise

/ˈælfəbətaɪz/ verb

Definition

To arrange in alphabetical order; to put items in sequence according to the letters of the alphabet.

Etymology

From 'alphabet' + the verb suffix '-ise' (British spelling; American '-ize'), following the pattern of Greek and Latin root verb formations. The term emerged in English during the 19th century.

Kelly Says

When you 'alphabetise' a list, you're participating in a system that didn't really exist before the printing press—before then, people organized knowledge by topic or importance, not by boring letter order.

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