real [ME] Latin res ‘thing’ lies behind real. It developed a form realis ‘relating to things’ which came into English via French as a legal term which still survives in the expressions real property and real estate. Real estate is so-called because it is immovable property such as land and houses, the opposite of personal property. Realize [M17th] was originally used to mean ‘to make real’ as in to realize your plans. The sense ‘become aware’ started in American English in the late 18th century; it was often condemned by English writers in the middle of the 19th century.