childly

English

Etymology

From Middle English childly, childlich, childli, from Old English ċildlīċ (“childly, childlish”), equivalent to child +‎ -ly.

Adjective

childly (comparative more childly, superlative most childly)

1. Of or pertaining to a young child; childlike

Usage notes

Childly has a positive connotation, as opposed to the sometimes pejorative childish.

Synonyms

• juvenile, kiddish; see also Thesaurus:childlike

Middle English

Alternative forms

• childli, childlich, childely, chyldly, childeli, childlyche

Etymology

From Old English ċildlīċ; equivalent to child +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃiːldliː/, /ˈt͡ʃiːldlit͡ʃ(ə)/

Adjective

childly

1. pertaining to a child; childly; childlike
   • c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volumes (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:

     for to loke upon his cheke
     And seen his childly maner eke

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. childish; not mature

Descendants

• English: childly

References

• “chīldlī, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-07-06.

Adverb

childly

1. childishly

References

• “chīldlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-07-06.