To adapt a story into a dramatic or theatrical form, or to present something in an exaggerated or theatrical way.
From drama plus -ise (British spelling suffix meaning 'to make or become'), parallel to the American -ize. Comes from Greek -izein.
The British 'dramatise' vs American 'dramatize' split happened because different countries adopted different Latin suffix conventions—and neither side has budged since the 1700s!
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