— lexicalization , n.
/lek"si keuh luyz'/ , v.t., lexicalized, lexicalizing . Ling.
1. to convert (an affix, a phrase, etc.) into a lexical item, as in using the suffix -ism as the noun ism.
2. to represent (a set of semantic features) by a lexical item.
Also, esp. Brit., lexicalise .
[ 1935-40; LEXICAL + -IZE ]