To combine with or introduce nitrogen into a chemical compound, or to cause nitrogen fixation in a substance.
From French 'azote' (nitrogen, coined 1787) + '-ize' (American suffix for making verbs). The French root combines Greek 'a-' (not) + 'zoe' (life), though the name proved ironic given nitrogen's critical role in biology.
The original name 'azote' was a spectacular scientific mistake that stuck—chemists named nitrogen 'the no-life substance,' not realizing it was essential for all living things!
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