Cicatrise

/ˈsɪkətraɪz/ verb

Definition

To form scar tissue or heal into a scar (British spelling variant).

Etymology

British English spelling of cicatrize, maintaining the -s- following French conventions while retaining the Italian/Latin root.

Kelly Says

The survival of both -z- and -s- spellings reflects England's historical language choices—retaining French spelling conventions even as American English moved toward Germanicized -z- endings.

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