classify
UK: ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ | US: ˈklæs.ə.faɪ
vt. to arrange or organize into categories based on shared characteristics
vt. to designate (information) as confidential or restricted
classify = class<category> + ify<to make>
- class (from Latin classis, meaning "a division or category")
- ify (a verb-forming suffix from Latin -ificare, meaning "to make" or "to cause to become")
Etymology Origin:
The word classify emerged in the early 19th century, combining class (a term rooted in ancient Roman societal divisions) with the suffix -ify, which transforms nouns into verbs. The logic is straightforward: "to make into classes." This reflects the scientific and organizational trends of the Enlightenment era, where systematic categorization became essential in fields like biology, library science, and bureaucracy.
Librarians classify books according to the Dewey Decimal System.
Scientists classify newly discovered species based on genetic traits.
The government decided to classify the documents as top secret.
Children learn to classify shapes by their attributes in early math lessons.
The app uses AI to classify emails into folders automatically.