vanitize

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English vanity

Proto-Indo-European *-id-

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti

Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō

Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor.

Late Latin -izōder.

Middle French -iserbor.

Middle English -isen

English -ize

English vanitize

From vanity + -ize.

Verb

vanitize (third-person singular simple present vanitizes, present participle vanitizing, simple past and past participle vanitized)

1. (ambitransitive) To embellish for reasons of vanity.
   • 1876, Fontnell S. Chad: A Reminiscence, J. Masters and Co., page 43,

     […] when I went up to administer to Carrie a small lecture on imprudence, the vain child was still at the glass, trying the effect of a pair of earrings on the background of her hair which hung loose round her shoulders […]

     "I told her she was a great goose," said Goda, who like a sensible being was snugly tucked up in bed; "it is a great deal too cold to vanitize."

   • 2006 September 27, <aine_nicneven@hotmail.com>, “Re: ainshe niceneven”, in alt.religion.druid (Usenet):

     I don't defend, offend or vanitize my body or appearance so compliments or insults in that area go over my head and past me.

Anagrams

• nativize