v.; also -ise. [In Milton’s use (sense 1), ad. Gr. βαρβαρίζ-ειν to (behave or) speak like a barbarian, but in the other senses, the suffix has its modern transitive force as in civil-ize, as if f. L. barbar-us + -IZE.]
1. intr. To speak or write like a barbarian; to violate the laws of Latin or Greek grammar.
1644. Milton, Educ. (1883), 5. The ill habit … of wretched barbarizing against the Latin and Greek idiom.
1651. Barksdale, Nympha Lib. (1816), 2. If she barbarise, like boys at school.
1801. W. Taylor, in Month. Mag., XII. 223. To barbarize in language.
2. trans. To render barbarous.
1648. Jos. Beaumont, Psyche, XV. xlix. (T.). Barbarized by a mutual war.
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Lord, Wks. VIII. 18. The hideous changes which have since barbarized France.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. II. vi. 307. To distract, and barbarize the Irish.
1868. Bushnell, Serm. living Subj., 33. If we choose to let our hearts be barbarized.
b. To corrupt or alter (language) from any classical standard or type (or what is so considered).
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. iv. 144. Darje was no other than Gregorio, tho’ somewhat Barbarized.
1791–1824. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1858), III. 30. The French revolutionists … almost barbarised the pure French of the Augustan age of their literature.
1871. Freeman, Hist. Ess., Ser. I. vi. 130. The names of the most famous European cities are mutilated or barbarized.
3. intr. To grow barbarous, fall into barbarism.
1824. Blackw. Mag., XV. 594. The Irish character … appears to be rapidly barbarizing.
1871. Lowell, Study Wind., in Casquet Lit., I. 394/1. I felt myself sensibly barbarizing.
