Bastardization

/ˌbæstərdaɪˈzeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process or act of making something illegitimate, impure, or corrupted, especially in American English spelling.

Etymology

From bastardize + -ation (American spelling with -ize from Greek -izein). The noun form from the verb, indicating the result or process of the action.

Kelly Says

American English prefers -ization (with a z) because the Greek root -izein was more familiar to early American scholars than Latin -isare—a tiny spelling choice reflects whole historical networks of influence.

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