naturalize

• naturalise

From Middle French naturaliser. Surface etymology is natural + -ize[1]

• IPA^(key): /ˈnætʃəɹəˌlaɪz/, /ˈnætʃɹəˌlaɪz/

naturalize (third-person singular simple present naturalizes, present participle naturalizing, simple past and past participle naturalized)

1. To grant citizenship to someone not born a citizen
2. To acclimatize an animal or plant
   • Hawthorne

     Its wearer suggested that pears and peaches might yet be naturalized in the New England climate.

3. To make natural

   Custom naturalizes labour or study.

4. To limit explanations of a phenomenon to naturalistic ones and exclude supernatural ones
5. (linguistics) To make (a word) a natural part of the language.

   English speakers have naturalized the French word "café".

6. To study nature.
   • 1854, Somerton, The heiress of Somerton, page 226:

     Well, any way, Doctor, we will make an appointment for a whole day here next spring ; we will botanize, herbarize and naturalize to our hearts' content, from morn till night."

In English, foreign words are typically written in italics until they are naturalized.

• supernaturalize