Note: Childlike, as applied to persons grown up, is commonly in a good sense; as, childlike grace or simplicity; childlike modesty. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
childlike — childlike, childish agree in meaning having or showing the manner, spirit, or disposition of a child. Both are applicable to adolescents and to adults as well as to children. Childlike, however, usually suggests such qualities of childhood as… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
childlike — [chīld′līk΄] adj. 1. belonging or suitable to a child 2. like or characteristic of a child; innocent, trusting, etc. childlikeness n. SYN. CHILDLIKE and CHILDISH are both applied to persons of any age in referring to characteristics or qualities… … English World dictionary
childlike — index ingenuous, juvenile, naive, puerility, unaffected (sincere) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
childlike — 1580s, proper to a child, from CHILD (Cf. child) + LIKE (Cf. like). Meaning like a child in a good sense (distinguished from CHILDISH (Cf. childish)) is from 1725 … Etymology dictionary
childlike — [adj] innocent, naive artless, childish, credulous, guileless, immature, ingenuous, natural, simple, spontaneous, trustful, trusting, unaffected, unfeigned; concept 404 Ant. complicated, untrusting … New thesaurus
childlike — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of an adult) having the good qualities, such as innocence, associated with a child … English terms dictionary
childlike — child|like [ˈtʃaıldlaık] adj having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as ↑innocence and eagerness childlike innocence/simplicity/directness ▪ You know I love you, she said with childlike simplicity.… … Dictionary of contemporary English
childlike — childish, childlike Both words tend now to be used to describe the behaviour of adolescents and adults rather than children. Childish has developed a generally depreciatory meaning ‘having the immature characteristics of a child’, whereas… … Modern English usage
childlike — [[t]tʃa͟ɪldlaɪk[/t]] ADJ GRADED You describe someone as childlike when they seem like a child in their character, appearance, or behaviour. His most enduring quality is his childlike innocence... Her behaviour was childlike and dependent … English dictionary
childlike — adjective 1) his grandmother looked almost childlike Syn: youthful, young, young looking, girlish, boyish 2) geniuses tend to be rather childlike Syn: innocent, artless, guileless, unworldly, unsophisticated, naive … Thesaurus of popular words
