Meaning of decausativize | Babel Free

Definitions

To function in manner that is not causative (e.g. The causative verb "melt" in He melts the ice decausativizes in The ice melts).

Examples

“Levin and Rappaport (1995) argue that causative verbs can decausativize when the eventualities described come about spontaneously without the external intervention of an agent.”

“Now I am ready to answer the first question — which causative verbs decausativize and which don't.”

“Conversely, in order to decausativize, the non-causative event must be be^([sic]) able to occur without an external cause (unlike, for example, being cut or being amused, which require an agent or instrument).”

CEFR level