What is "barbarize"

Barbarize \Bar"ba*rize\, v. t. [Cf. F. barbariser, LL. barbarizare.] To make barbarous.

The hideous changes which have barbarized France.
--Burke.

Barbarize \Bar"ba*rize\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Barbarized; p. pr. & vb. n. Barbarizing.]

1. To become barbarous.

   The Roman empire was barbarizing rapidly from the time of Trajan.
   --De Quincey.

2. To adopt a foreign or barbarous mode of speech.

   The ill habit . . . of wretched barbarizing against the Latin and Greek idiom, with their untutored Anglicisms.
   --Milton.

vb. 1 (context transitive English) To cause to become savage or uncultured. 2 (context intransitive English) To become savage or uncultured. 3 (context intransitive English) To adopt a foreign or barbarous mode of speech.

1. v. become crude or savage or barbaric in behavior or language [syn: barbarise]

2. make crude or savage in behavior or speech; "his years in prison have barbarized the young man" [syn: barbarise]