lionizev.
/ˈlʌɪənʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈlaɪəˌnaɪz/ 1. transitive. To visit the ‘lions’ of (a place); to visit or go over (a place of interest).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (transitive)] > see the sights of
lionize1838
sightsee1968
1838 G. Ticknor Life, Lett. & Jrnls. II. viii. 157 Eager to lionize the town with us.
1852 E. Lear Jrnls. Painter in S. Calabria 75 Lionising the church and convent.
1863 ‘Ouida’ Held in Bondage I. iii. 60 The time to lionize Cambridge is May and June.
1883 R. Gower My Reminisc. II. xxi. 20 The next day..I passed at Northampton, lionising the different buildings of interest in the place.
2.
a. To show the ‘lions’ to (a person). Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > exposure to public view > an exhibition > exhibit [verb (transitive)]
show?c1225
exhibit1766
lionize1830
stage1850
1830 T. B. Macaulay Southey's Colloq. in Edinb. Rev. 50 535 Mr. Southey very hospitably takes an opportunity to lionize [ Ess. 1843 I. 228 escort] the ghost round the lakes.
1856 C. J. Lever Martins of Cro' Martin 135 I want you to lionise an old friend of mine, who has the ambition to ‘do’ Connemara under your guidance.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. II. ix. 159 I'm not in the humour to be dancing about lionizing.
1870 B. Disraeli Lothair (new ed.) xxiv He had lionised the distinguished visitors during the last few days over the University.
1881 E. FitzGerald Lett. (1889) I. 475 I was lionized over some things new to me, and some that I was glad to see again.
b. To show the ‘lions’ of (a place).
ΚΠ
1875 F. T. Buckland Log-bk. Fisherman 189 The vicar then lionised the church.
3. intransitive. To see the ‘lions’ of a place.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > travel as a tourist > sight-see
to see, or show, the lions1590
sightsee1824
lionize1825
rubberneck1892
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 137 We sallied forth to lionize..which is the Oxford term for gazing about, usually applied to strangers.
1847 R. W. Church Let. 6 Feb. in Life & Lett. (1897) 80 We got in yesterday [at Malta] at 1.30, and have been lionising since.
1860 H. B. Tristram Great Sahara xviii. 312 I was soon compelled to desist from all attempts to lionize, as ophthalmia rendered the light intolerable.
4. transitive. To treat (a person) as a ‘lion’ or celebrity; to make a ‘lion’ of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > making famous > make famous or celebrate [verb (transitive)]
enluminec1386
famea1400
bruitc1487
renowna1500
celebrate1522
specifya1525
illustrate1530
illustre1530
resoundc1550
blaze1552
blazon1553
ennoble1565
repeat1582
famose1590
famous1590
royalize1590
emblazon1592
emblaze1596
concelebrate1599
blazonize1614
laurizea1618
lustre1627
befame1669
sound1711
belion1837
lionize1837
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott II. vii. 246 They cannot lionize me [sc. Scott] without my returning the compliment and learning something from them.
1864 Spectator No. 1875. 639 During the height of the Russian War, Russians were as safe in London as in St. Petersburg, were, indeed rather lionized.
5. intransitive. To be a ‘lion’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > be or become eminent [verb (intransitive)]
shinec900
to get (also make) oneself a nameOE
blazea1387
flourisha1387
resound1562
to fame ita1625
to make a noise in the world1662
to make (familiarly to cut) a figure1691
to set the Thames on fire1720
star1815
lionize1834
to make a name for oneself1997
1834 Fraser's Mag. 9 64 This is quite fame enough for any one, and upon the strength of it he may continue to lionise.
Derivatives
ˈlionizing n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [noun] > travelling for pleasure > sight-seeing
lion-hunting1770
sightseeing1824
lionizing1837
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > making famous > [noun]
celebration1553
celebrating1573
renowning1591
famousing1609
lionism1835
lionizing1837
lionization1841
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott lxxiii The pernicious and degrading trickery of lionizing.
1857 A. Mathews Tea-table Talk I. 100 Her lionizing mania had reached to fever point.
1861 C. F. Bromley Woman's Wanderings 34 In a hurried journey one gets sadly tired of lionising.
1864 ‘C. Bede’ in London Society July 27/1 The country cousins will retain but a very vague remembrance of their Oxford lionizings.
lioniˈzation n. the action of the verb.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > [noun]
hereworda1100
famec1290
lose1297
renownc1330
namecouthhead1340
noblessec1350
namec1384
reputationc1390
emprisea1393
renomeea1393
celebrity?c1400
enpressc1400
notec1400
renowneec1430
flavourc1449
honestnessa1450
bruita1470
renome?1473
famosity1535
famousness1548
renownedness1596
celebration1631
rumour1638
notedness1661
noise1670
distinction1699
eminence1702
éclat1742
baya1764
kudos1831
lionhood1833
lionism1835
lionship1837
lionization1841
stardom1865
spotlight1875
réclame1883
stellardom1883
the big cheesea1910
big time1910
star billing1910
starring1913
megastardom1981
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > making famous > [noun]
celebration1553
celebrating1573
renowning1591
famousing1609
lionism1835
lionizing1837
lionization1841
1841 C. Dickens Let. 23 June (1969) II. 309 The horrors of lionization.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 462 Antonia had to submit to the lionisation of her husband.
ˈlionizer n. one who lionizes.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > traveller > [noun] > tourist > sight-seer
lionizer1829
sightseer1834
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > [noun] > one who guides or leads > strangers or tourists
sightsmanc1660
xenagogue1674
ciceronea1719
valet-de-place1750
lionizer1829
provodnik1888
tourist guide1924
travel guide1934
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [noun] > servile flatterer > of celebrities
lion-huntress1828
lion-hunter1829
lionizer1829
1829 R. H. Froude in Remains (1838) I. 239 I got within the baleful influence of Lionisers, and was pestered out of my wits by humbugging guides.
1851 R. F. Burton Goa 268 A glimpse of scenery that even a jaded lionizer would admire.
1887 W. P. Frith Autobiogr. II. xxix. 346 The lion was Tom Moore, the poet; and the lionizers, consisting chiefly of ladies [etc.].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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