relexicalize
verbEtymology From re- + lexicalize.
1
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences To change the lexicon of; to use different words for.
- For example, in British newspapers, […] the process of telling someone off or reprimanding them is relexicalized as 'rap'. To criticize strongly is to 'blast' or 'slam', and to investigate is to 'probe'.2013, Michael Higgins, Angela Smith, The Language of Journalism: A Multi-genre Perspective, page 71:
2
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences To borrow or adopt back into a lexicon.
- to relexicalize a word
- Related terms
- relexicalization