codify
UK: /ˈkəʊ.dɪ.faɪ/ | US: /ˈkoʊ.də.faɪ/
vt. to arrange (laws, rules, etc.) into a systematic code or set
vt. to reduce (principles, ideas, etc.) to a structured form
codify = code<systematic set of laws> + ify<to make>
- code: From Latin codex (a book of laws), later Old French code (systematic collection of statutes).
- ify: A verb-forming suffix from Latin -ificare (via French -ifier), meaning "to make" or "to cause to become."
Etymology Origin:
The word codify emerged in the early 19th century, combining code (a structured system of laws) with the suffix -ify, which transforms nouns into verbs meaning "to make." It reflects the Enlightenment-era effort to organize legal or conceptual systems into clear, accessible formats. The logic is straightforward: code + ify = "to make into a code."
The government plans to codify these regulations into a unified legal framework.
Philosophers often attempt to codify abstract ideas into practical principles.
The team worked to codify the company’s policies for better clarity.
Ancient civilizations like Rome sought to codify their laws for consistency.
The professor’s goal was to codify decades of research into a single theory.