Alphabetization

/ˌælfəbətɪˈzeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process of arranging words, names, or items in the order of the letters of the alphabet.

Etymology

From alphabetize (verb) + -ation (suffix forming nouns). Alphabetize comes from alphabet + -ize (to make or arrange). Alphabet itself comes from Greek alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

Kelly Says

Alphabetization seems obvious now, but it wasn't standardized in libraries and dictionaries until the Middle Ages—before that, scholars organized information by topic or importance instead, making it much harder to find things quickly.

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