The word "alcoholize" is spelled with a "z" instead of an "s" due to its Latin origin. The word derives from the Latin "alcohol", which means "fine powder" and later came to mean "pure spirit". In Latin, the suffix "-izare" meant "to make into." Thus, "alcoholizare" was derived from "alcohol" to mean "to turn something into a pure spirit," or "to make alcoholic." In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ˈælkəhɒlaɪz/.
The term "alcoholize" refers to the act or process of adding, mixing, or saturating with alcohol, typically for the purpose of making a liquid alcoholic or increasing its alcoholic content. It involves the incorporation of alcohol into a substance, often altering its properties and characteristics.
In the context of beverages, alcoholizing commonly refers to the addition of alcohol to a non-alcoholic drink, thereby transforming it into an alcoholic beverage. This can be accomplished by mixing a measured amount of alcohol, such as vodka, rum, or wine, with a base liquid like fruit juice, soda, or water. The resulting mixture is then typically consumed as an alcoholic beverage.
Outside the realm of beverages, alcoholize can also pertain to the impregnation or saturation of a solid material with alcohol. This process is employed in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, where the desired compound or substance must be dissolved in alcohol to facilitate its administration or application.
Furthermore, the term may also be used in a figurative sense to describe the influence or effect of alcohol on an individual or a social setting. For example, someone might say that a party was alcoholized to emphasize the prevalence or impact of alcohol consumption at the event.
Overall, alcoholize represents the action of introducing, mixing, or incorporating alcohol into a liquid or solid substance, enabling its transformation into an alcoholic composition.
1. To impregnate with alcohol. 2. To convert into alcohol.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word alcoholize derives from the noun alcohol combined with the suffix -ize.
The noun alcohol comes from the Arabic term al-kuhul, which referred to a specific kind of kohl, a cosmetic substance used as eyeliner by ancient cultures. The word was borrowed into Medieval Latin as alcohol to specifically denote a fine powder obtained from distillation. Over time, alcohol evolved to encompass various distilled substances, including spirits and eventually ethanol, which is now commonly referred to as alcohol.
The suffix -ize comes from Greek, where it is commonly used to form verbs. It indicates the act of making or becoming something, often denoting a process or action. Thus, alcoholize combines the noun alcohol with the suffix -ize to form a verb meaning to treat or mix with alcohol or to render alcoholic.