v. [f. STANDARD sb. and a. + -IZE.]
1. trans. To bring to a standard or uniform size, strength, form of construction, proportion of ingredients, or the like.
1873. Ralfe, Phys. Chem., 226. This solution must be standardized.
1889. Daily News, 20 June, 6/3. The supply of electrical energy under statutory powers could not be effectively carried out unless there was some method of standardising the meters and other instruments.
1904. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 10 Sept., 564. The emulsion was always made up to a uniform strength … by standardizing it against an arbitrarily-chosen standard bacterial suspension.
1907. [see STABLY adv.].
b. transf.
1900. M. Crackanthorpe, in 19th Cent., Jan., 103 (title), Can sentences be standardised?
1906. J. Macdonell, in 19th Cent., June, 990. Legislation is, to use an engineering expression, being standardised.
1911. F. Harrison, Autobiog. Mem., II. xxxvii. 314. Life and Society have been standardised.
2. To test by a standard.
1881. Nature, 3 Nov., 17/2. This other mode of measurement should be standardised … by comparison with Mr. Harcourt’s air-gas flame, which should alone be taken as the official standard.
1898. G. C. Frankland, in Longm. Mag., Nov., 69. To standardise the poisonous principle contained in it [eel’s blood].
3. (See quot. 1890.)
1889. Tablet, 2 Nov., 688/2. For each instrument two plates will be standardised.
1890. Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., III. 158. The Lick observatory plates were ‘standardized.’ That is, a portion of each plate was impressed with the light from a standard lamp shining for a known time through a small hole at a known distance.
Hence Standardized ppl. a.; Standardizing vbl. sb. (also attrib.).
1884. Times, 14 Aug., 3/2. An elaborate article on standardized laudanum.
1889. Daily News, 20 June, 4/7. To advocate the establishment of an electrical standardizing laboratory. Ibid. (1892), 31 March, 6/8. The Electric Standardising, Testing, and Training Institution.
1913. T. Okey, in Contemp. Rev., Dec., 776. Standardised voting cards are provided by the respective candidates bearing their names printed in the centre at each side.
