Childifies

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make something more childlike in appearance or manner; to simplify or soften qualities to suit children’s preferences; to imbue with characteristics typically associated with children, such as innocence or playfulness
2. To alter something so that it appeals to a younger audience; to reduce complexity to match the understanding of children; to instill childlike traits that emphasize joy and simplicity
3. To transform an object or concept to reflect childlike features; to adapt content for easier comprehension by children; to incorporate elements that celebrate the whimsiness associated with youth

Etymology: "Childifies" is a regular verb formed from "child" plus the suffix "-ify," which comes from Latin "-ificare," a combining form of "facere," meaning "to make" or "to do." English has used "-ify" since the Middle Ages to build verbs meaning "to make into" something, as in "simplify" or "beautify." Attaching it to "child" gives the sense "to make into a child," which is the basis of the meaning given here. Because the root is a plain English noun, the verb is a transparent modern formation rather than a term with a traceable history of its own. Its earliest uses are recent and mostly appear in commentary on children's media, toys, and design. Dictionaries record it as a modern coinage, and its exact first appearance is not something I can date with confidence.

Synonyms: juvenilizes, infantilizes, makes childish, babyfies

Antonyms: matures, adultifies, grows up, seniorizes