Dictionary

nonsensify en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *ís? Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos Proto-Germanic *ainaz Proto-Germanic *nainaz Proto-West Germanic *nain Old English nān Middle English non ▲ Old English nān Old English nān- Middle English non- English non- Proto-Indo-European *sent-der. Proto-Italic *sentiō Latin sentiō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin sēnsusbor. Proto-Germanic *sinnaz Frankish *sinnbor. Vulgar Latin *sennus Old French sensbor. Middle English sense English sense English nonsense Latin -i- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin -ificāreder. Old French -ifierbor. Middle English -ifien English -ify English nonsensify From nonsense + -ify.

Meanings

1. (intransitive, rare, transitive) To treat as, transform into, or create nonsense, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
   • The Dutchman, taking the 16th stage of the Tour de France after a solo effort which nonsensified all known laws of human endurance, smiled. 2002, Alun Rees, "Golf: Maruyama outshone," Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), 27 Jul.
   • The artist, generalizing from the facts of experience, combines concrete symbols absurdly so as to nonsensify pragmatic reality. 1949, Wilson Library Bulletin,, volume 24, page 241:
   • But Swift will have none of this. He nonsensifies Collins. 2001, Phillip Harth et al., Eighteenth-century Contexts: Historical Inquiries in Honor of Phillip Harth, →ISBN, page 84:
   • Turnbull again obscures and nonsensifies by misprinting "works" for "words." 1872, A. B. Grossart, ed., The Complete Poems of Robert Southwell, Printed for private collection, "St. Peter's Complaint," p. 51 (note for stanza 65, line 2)

Forms

Deriveds

nonsensification