kid-friendly
UK[ˌkɪd ˈfrend.li]US[ˌkɪd ˈfrend.li]
adj
suitable for or not harmful to children; designed to appeal to children.
Morpheme Breakdown
kid
friendly
kid
child
friendly
characterized by
Etymology
the compound adjective 'kid-friendly' is a modern formation, blending the informal noun 'kid', meaning child, with the productive suffix '-friendly'. the term 'kid' itself has a fascinating journey, originating from old norse 'kið', meaning a young goat, which entered middle english with the same meaning before its sense broadened colloquially to refer to a child. the suffix '-friendly' evolved from the old english adjective 'frēondlīc', meaning 'like a friend'. in contemporary usage, '-friendly' has become a highly productive combining form, indicating suitability or ease of use for a specified group or purpose. thus, 'kid-friendly' logically denotes something characterized by being suitable or safe for children, extending the concept of amicability to inanimate objects and environments.
Analysis
Structure: kid (child) + friendly (characterized by)
- kid: from middle english 'kid' (young goat), of scandinavian origin. functions as a noun root meaning 'child'.
- friendly: from old english 'frēondlīc' (friendlike), from 'frēond' (friend) + '-līc' (adjective-forming suffix). functions as an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'characterized by; suitable for'.
Examples
the restaurant has a kid-friendly menu with smaller portions and healthy options.
we need to ensure the website's content is kid-friendly and free of inappropriate material.
the museum's new interactive exhibit is very kid-friendly and encourages hands-on learning.