The Spanish verb 'codificar' (to codify) is formed from two Latin elements: 'codex' meaning 'book' or 'register', and 'facere' meaning 'to make' or 'to do'. The Latin 'facere' evolved into the Spanish verbal suffix '-ficar', which is used to create verbs meaning 'to make something into' what the first element describes. Thus, 'codificar' literally means 'to make into a code' or 'to put into systematic form'.

This formation follows a common pattern in Spanish where '-ficar' is added to create verbs that indicate transformation or systematization, similar to English '-ify'.

Some related Spanish words include 'código' (code), which comes directly from Latin 'codex', and other verbs that use the '-ficar' suffix like 'simplificar' (to simplify), 'clasificar' (to classify), and 'verificar' (to verify). All these words share the idea of systematic organization or transformation.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'code', 'codex', and 'codify', which share the same Latin root 'codex'. The '-ify' ending in English words like 'codify' is actually cognate with Spanish '-ficar', as both come from Latin 'facere'. This makes 'codificar' and 'codify' perfect cognates, having both the same meaning and etymology.