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What would be a single-word verb for making something immutable (= unchanging over time or unable to be changed; generally used to describe objects in computer science)?

What I actually want to say is

UnmodifiableMap is a map with immutable keys and values. UnmodifiableKeySetMap is a modified version of UnmodifiableMap that only ??? the keys.

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  • 7
    Petrify, freeze, arrest, crystallize, congeal
    – 1006a
    May 22, 2017 at 18:58
  • 1
    Codify, concretize, solidify, archive, set, standardize?
    – Yosef Baskin
    May 22, 2017 at 18:58
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    Fix. "b : to give a permanent or final form to: such as (1) : to change into a stable compound or available form bacteria that fix nitrogen (2) : to kill, harden, and preserve for microscopic study (3) : to make the image of (a photographic film) permanent by removing unused salts" MW.
    – Phil Sweet
    May 22, 2017 at 20:08
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    Lock -- as in the file is locked.
    – Roger Sinasohn
    May 22, 2017 at 21:06
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    finalize as in to finalize a CD-R for example.
    – Jim
    May 23, 2017 at 4:45

3 Answers 3

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2

"Stabilize" could fit, but at a less forceful meaning than immutable. Or "Freeze," which implies no further change or movement.

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1

There isn't a widely recognized verb form. I use "immutablize", because I think the majority of readers will understand the intent.

I wish "immute" was an option, but it's already a word that means "to change" (which seems backwards, but I'm not an etymologist).

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0

Perhaps you could use:

ascribe [uh-skrahyb] verb (used with object)

  1. to credit or assign, as to a cause or source; attribute; impute

  2. to attribute or think of as belonging, as a quality or characteristic

Or

affix [uh-fiks] verb (used with object)

  1. to fasten, join, or attach (usually followed by to)

  2. to put or add on; append

*Definitions taken from dictionary.com

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