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Bal·kan·ize or bal·kan·ize

(bôlkə-nīz′)

tr.v. Bal·kan·ized, Bal·kan·iz·ing, Bal·kan·iz·es or bal·kan·ized or bal·kan·iz·ing or bal·kan·iz·es

1. To divide (a region or territory) into small, often hostile units.

2. To divide (an organization or system) into small, incompatible units: changes that would Balkanize the corporation.

[From the political division of the Balkan countries in the early 20th century.]

Bal′kan·i·zation n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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