apostrophize (apostrophizes, present participle apostrophizing; past and past participle apostrophized)

1. (transitive) To address#Verb|address using the form of rhetoric called the apostrophe.
   • 1823 December 23 (indicated as 1824)​, [Walter Scott], “The Guest”, in St Ronan’s Well. [...] In Three Volumes, volume I, Edinburgh: Printed [by James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., OCLC 79179534 ↗, page 33 ↗:

     [S]he resumed her former occupation, and continued to soliloquize and apostrophize her absent hand-maidens, without even appearing sensible of his presence.

   • 1853, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, ch. 14:

     "He fully believes he is one of the aristocracy! And he is so condescending to the son he so egregiously deludes that you might suppose him the most virtuous of parents. Oh!" said the old lady, apostrophizing him with infinite vehemence. "I could bite you!"

   • 1860 December – 1861 August​, Charles Dickens, chapter XIX, in Great Expectations [...] In Three Volumes, volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, OCLC 3359935 ↗, page 329 ↗:

     “Ah! poultry, poultry! You little thought,” said Mr. Pumblechook, apostrophising the fowl in the dish, “when you was a young fledgling, what was in store for you. [...]”

2. To add one or more apostrophe characters to text#Noun|text to indicate missing#Adjective|missing letter#Noun|letters.

• French: apostropher
• Italian: apostrofare
• Portuguese: apostrofar