v. [f. APOSTROPHE + -IZE.]

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  I.  From APOSTROPHE1.

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  1.  Rhet. To address with or in an apostrophe.

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1725.  Pope, Odyss., XIV. 41, note. Homer’s manner of apostrophizing Eumæus.

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1760.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, xxx. Wks. IX. 289. ‘Best of honest and gallant servants!’—but I have apostrophiz’d thee Trim, once before.

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1825.  Scott, Betrothed, ii. ‘And what though thou, O scroll,’ he said, apostrophizing the letter … ‘dost speak with the tongue of the stranger.’

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  b.  absol. or intr.

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1824.  Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 228. Indeed, apostrophising and mystifying apart.

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1865.  Pall Mall G., 19 June, 4/1. That additional half-hour of hesitation, repetition, and apostrophizing on his part.

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  II.  From APOSTROPHE2.

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  2.  To omit one or more letters of a word; to mark with the sign (’) the omission of letters.

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1611.  Cotgr., Apostropher … to apostrophise; to cut off (by an Apostrophe) the last vowell of a word.

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1818.  [See next.]

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