v. [f. Gr. σύστημα, -ατ. SYSTEM + -IZE.] trans. To arrange according to a system; to reduce to system.
1764–7. Lyttelton, Hen. II., II. (1769), III. 203. The eastern and western Goths had some general notions of the feudal policy, which were gradually systematised.
1780. Harris, Philol. Enq., II. xii. (1781), 224. Many things have been done in the best and purest taste, long before Rules were established, and systematized in form.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. viii. 250. His restless ambition … had systematised intrigue.
1830. Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 35. The vast collection of laws enacted or systematized by Justinian.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 343. Hallucinations, which are systematised into delusions.
B. absol. or intr. To construct a system (e.g., of philosophy, classification, etc.).
1891. in Cent. Dict.
1911. J. Oman, in Expositor, Oct., 362. The moment be proceeds to systematise,… he knows, just as little as any other systematiser, what to do with personality.
Hence Systematized ppl. a., Systematizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. (in quot. 1827 = ‘scheming’); also Systematization, the action or process of systematizing; a systematic arrangement, statement, etc.; Systematizer, one who systematizes.
1811–3. Bentham, Univ. Gram., Wks. 1843, VIII. 356/2. *Systematization; i.e. placing the several denominations … in systematic order.
1838. [F. Haywood], trans. Kant’s Crit. Pure Reason, 490. The systematization of cognition—that is, the connexion thereof according to a principle.
1864. Max Müller, Sci. Lang., Ser. II. iii. 98, note. English Phonetics, containing an original systematisation of spoken sounds.
1904. Duckworth, Morphol. & Anthropol., x. 232. The accompanying scheme … has been found of practical use in the further systematisation of observations.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. 1808, VIII. 393. The relations of peace and amity with *systematised regicide.
1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxxviii. The systematized roguery of London.
1878–9. J. Caird, Philos. Relig. (1880), 106. A living organism is not a mere aggregation of independent parts, but a systematised unity of members.
1884. F. Temple, Relat. Relig. & Sci., v. (1885), 127. The systematised experience which we call Science.
1780. Harris, Philol. Enq., I. i. (1781), 8. Aristotle … may be called the *Systematizer of his Master’s Doctrines.
1854. R. H. Patterson, Ess. Hist. & Art (1862), 371. Auguste Comte … is but a systematiser of the doctrines of Confucius and the old philosophers of China.
1828. Sewell, Oxford Prize Ess., 18. That mad fondness for *systematizing … which overthrows all the creations of nature.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci., I. I. ii. § 2. 42. The treatises on the various subjects of Natural History … manifest a wonderful power of systematising.
1827. Southey, in Q. Rev., Oct., 312. A cool, crafty, calculating, *systematizing knave.
1883. Sayce, in Contemp. Rev., Sept., 391. The later age of systematizing philosophy.
