Is there a verb form for "Template", or such synonym?

Question

My research shows that the word Template exists only as a noun.

I feel comfortable using the word to Template, or Templating (as a verb or gerund), to express the process of creating a template, though it doesn't exist...

Or is there a good word to describe this that does exist?

My need is a bit tricky - I'm referring to a process where you create a template and then create documents based on it. So perhaps we could say:

Start the Document (templating/other word) process.

Model, guide, plan, coin, create.... How do you plan to use the word in a sentence? What is your objection to "create a template"? — Mark Hubbard, Feb 16 '17 at 14:40
You can verb any noun. Template, like stencil, can be used as a verb. — Drew, Feb 16 '17 at 14:43
Is the essence here that you are trying to make two processes, template creation and document creation from a template, into one process, with a name? — Spagirl, Feb 16 '17 at 14:45
Sure: use it as a verb and it will be a verb. Perfectly understandable to any English speaker. No problem. If you want to wait a few years after you've used it and spread it around, and then read about it as a verb in the OED, then wait. — Drew, Feb 16 '17 at 14:45
@Drew - cute. i happen to agree with you, but i'm wondering if this is a documented and/or common method of verbing (a verb i just made up) — DAE, Feb 16 '17 at 14:46
@Drew: I think you've pretty much *solutioned* OP's problem there! :) — FumbleFingers, Feb 16 '17 at 14:49
"Start the Document Template process" sounds fine to me. Why create a new verb? — Mark Hubbard, Feb 16 '17 at 14:50
@MarkHubbard, other than the excitement of building the English language, I'm really looking for a process name (which i used in the sentence, for the sake of a sample sentence) — DAE, Feb 16 '17 at 14:51
"Start the Document Template process" sounds fine to me. Why create a new verb? — Mark Hubbard, Feb 16 '17 at 14:55
Sigh. OK, plating has become standard usage in the culinary community, so you might as well introduce templating in the (what? Microsoft Word?) community. It just grates a little. ;-) — Mark Hubbard, Feb 16 '17 at 15:07
"Templatize" is a reasonably common informal verb meaning "form into a template" or "extract a template from". — Hot Licks, Feb 20 '17 at 22:13
If you want support for @Drew's assertion, comics have you covered: Calvin and Hobbes, Get Fuzzy, XKCD — 1006a, Feb 20 '17 at 23:07

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 09 '19 at 22:45

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Templatize is sometimes used in the computer industry, to refer to the process of creating a template from some example.

answered Dec 09 '19 at 22:45

Hot Licks

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https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/templatize – Pete Dec 10 '19 at 23:17

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 16 '17 at 14:44

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Modeling (in the sense of creating a model or template) should come close.

dictionary.com:

model verb (used without object), modeled, modeling or (especially British) modelled, modelling.
22. to make models

answered Feb 16 '17 at 14:44

alwayslearning

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Phil Sweet · Answer 3 · 2017-02-20T23:12:21.447

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Template as a verb is well established in a few areas, such as replacing boat cushion covers.

The more precise the pattern you provide will result in a more exact fitting boat cushion. (For local customers we'll come and template every boat cushion needed for a flat $150 fee.)

http://www.foamorder.com/cushions/boat-cushions.html

edited Feb 20 '17 at 23:12

answered Feb 20 '17 at 21:54

Phil Sweet

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 24 '17 at 11:55

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Why not use the verb form?

'Create a template'

'Create a document using the (a) template'

answered Feb 24 '17 at 11:55

pHred

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Is there a verb form for "Template", or such synonym?

4 Answers4