nonsensify

English edit

Etymology edit

Verb edit

nonsensify (third-person singular simple present nonsensifies, present participle nonsensifying, simple past and past participle nonsensified)

(transitive and intransitive, rare) To treat as, transform into, or create nonsense, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
- 1872, A. B. Grossart, ed., The Complete Poems of Robert Southwell, Printed for private collection, "St. Peter's Complaint," p. 51 (note for stanza 65, line 2):
  Turnbull again obscures and nonsensifies by misprinting "works" for "words."
- 1949, Wilson Library Bulletin,, volume 24, page 241:
  The artist, generalizing from the facts of experience, combines concrete symbols absurdly so as to nonsensify pragmatic reality.
- 2001, Phillip Harth et al., Eighteenth-century Contexts: Historical Inquiries in Honor of Phillip Harth, →ISBN, page 84:
  But Swift will have none of this. He nonsensifies Collins.
- 2002, Alun Rees, "Golf: Maruyama outshone," Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), 27 Jul.:
  The Dutchman, taking the 16th stage of the Tour de France after a solo effort which nonsensified all known laws of human endurance, smiled.

Derived terms edit

nonsensification