materialize

materialize
materialize
is first recorded in 1710 and its first meaning was transitive (with an object): to materialize an idea was to realize it and to materialize a spirit was to make the spirit appear. Its intransitive use, now more familiar, dates from the late 19c, still in the context of spiritualism:

• The…ghosts…gave dark séances and manifested and materialized —Harper's Magazine, 1884.

But in current use the sense has been generalized so much that it means little more than ‘happen’ or ‘become available’:

• Plans do not always materialise in the anticipated way —Barbara Pym, 1982

• The alimony her ex-husband was supposed to pay never materialized —R. Deacon, 1988.

• He denied the accusations and threatened legal action that has yet to materialize —Mirror, 2007.

This use is so common that objection to it is futile except perhaps in cases (such as the last example given) that are noticeably remote from material existence. Plans and payments can be envisaged in physical terms, whereas action cannot.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Materialize — Ma*te ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Materialized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Materializing}.] [Cf. F. mat[ e]rialiser.] 1. To invest with material characteristics; to make perceptible to the senses; hence, to present to the mind through the medium of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Materialize — Ma*te ri*al*ize, v. i. 1. To appear as a material form; to take substantial shape. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] 2. To come into existence; as, the promised donations never materialized. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • materialize — index embody, emerge, form, occur (happen), realize (make real), substantiate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton …   Law dictionary

  • materialize — (v.) 1710, represent as material, from MATERIAL (Cf. material) (adj.) + IZE (Cf. ize). Meaning “appear in bodily form” is 1880, in spiritualism. Related: Materialized; materializing …   Etymology dictionary

  • materialize — externalize, objectify, incarnate, embody, actualize, *realize, hypostatize, reify …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • materialize — [v] come into being actualize, appear, become concrete, become real, become visual, be incarnate, be realized, coalesce, come about, come to pass, corporealize, develop, embody, emerge, entify, evolve, exteriorize, externalize, happen,… …   New thesaurus

  • materialize — (also materialise) ► VERB 1) become actual fact; happen. 2) appear in bodily form. DERIVATIVES materialization noun …   English terms dictionary

  • materialize — [mə tir′ē əl īz΄] vt. materialized, materializing 1. to give material form or characteristics to; represent in material form 2. to make (a spirit, etc.) appear in bodily form 3. to make materialistic vi. 1. to become fact; develop into something… …   English World dictionary

  • materialize — (BrE also ise) verb ADVERB ▪ never ▪ The hoped for boom never materialized. ▪ suddenly ▪ A waiter suddenly materialized at her elbow. ▪ ful …   Collocations dictionary

  • materialize — materialization, n. materializer, n. /meuh tear ee euh luyz /, v., materialized, materializing. v.i. 1. to come into perceptible existence; appear; become actual or real; be realized or carried out: Our plans never materialized. 2. to assume… …   Universalium

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