deverbation

Deverbation is a term used in linguistics to describe the process by which a verb is derived from another word, typically a noun or adjective. This is a common way new words are formed in many languages. For example, in English, the verb "to beautify" is deverbed from the adjective "beautiful." Similarly, "to mobilize" is derived from the noun "mobile." This process often involves adding suffixes such as -ify, -ize, or -ate, though it can also occur without any overt morphological marking. The resulting deverbed verb often carries a meaning related to the action or process of becoming or making something like the original noun or adjective. Understanding deverbation helps in analyzing word formation and the evolution of vocabulary within a language. It's a key aspect of morphology, the study of word structure. The concept is not limited to English and can be observed across numerous linguistic families.