Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To convert into a noun.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb (Grammar, Linguistics) To convert into a noun.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb linguistics To change into a noun, usually by affixing a morpheme.
  • verb philosophy To make nominalistic.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From nominal + -ize.

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Examples

  • Batchelor's critical-textual argument boils down to this: the four noble truths as we typically receive them in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (or "Wheel Turning" discourse) have been profoundly molded by the later insertion of "explanatory" subheadings that nominalize and mythologize each of the truths while simultaneously reversing the causal direction of some key relationships.

    the church and postmodern culture: conversation Adam Miller 2010

  • Batchelor's critical-textual argument boils down to this: the four noble truths as we typically receive them in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (or "Wheel Turning" discourse) have been profoundly molded by the later insertion of "explanatory" subheadings that nominalize and mythologize each of the truths while simultaneously reversing the causal direction of some key relationships.

    the church and postmodern culture: conversation Adam Miller 2010

  • I suppose I agree to a point that it’s not terribly productive to try to nominalize the “subsidy” that “oil companies” get from neo-colonial military spending I don’t mean neo-colonial in the fully loaded moral sense, just military spending and action with either the intent or effect of providing access to raw materials.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » “Profit” Is Not a Dirty Word: 2009

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