romanizing

Verb

romanize (third-person singular simple present romanizes, present participle romanizing, simple past and past participle romanized)

1. (transitive) To put letters or words written in another writing system into the Latin (Roman) alphabet.
   • The author romanizes Chinese names using the Wade–Giles system rather than the Pinyin system.

   Synonyms:

   Latinize, transliterate

2. (capitalized, historical, transitive, usually) To bring under the authority or influence of Rome.
   • But since this custome was probably disused before their Invasion or Conquest, and the Romanes confessedly practised the same, since their possession of this Island, the most assured account will fall upon the Romanes, or Brittains Romanized.1658, Thomas Browne, chapter 2, in Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial, London: Hen. Brome, page 28
3. (ambitransitive, capitalized, usually) To make or become Roman in character or style.
   • […] perhaps he has Romaniz’d his Grecian Dames too much, and made them speak sometimes as if they had been born in the City of Rome, and under the Empire of Augustus.1680, John Dryden, Ovid’s Epistles translated by several hands, London: Jacob Tonson, Preface
4. (ambitransitive, capitalized, usually) To make or become Roman Catholic in religion (by conversion), character or style.
   • […] the more primitive times of Protestantism were more leaning to that which Romanizing spirits have called Puritanism.1661, John Corbet, The Interest of England in the Matter of Religion, London: George Thomason, Section 11, p. 50

   Synonyms:

   Latinize

5. (obsolete, transitive) To fill with Latin words or idioms.
   • perhaps too, he [Ben Jonson] did a little to much Romanize our Tongue, leaving the words which he translated almost as much Latine as he found them: wherein though he learnedly followed the Idiom of their language, he did not enough comply with ours.1668, John Dryden, Of Dramatick Poesie, London: Henry Herringman, page 50

   Synonyms:

   Latinize

See all 6 meanings of romanize