sterilize (v.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[sterilize 词源字典]
"destroy the fertility of," 1690s (in reference to soil), from French stériliser or else from sterile + -ize; of living things from 1828. Meaning "render free of micro-organisms" is from 1878. Related: Sterilized; sterilizing.[sterilize etymology, sterilize origin, 英语词源]