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infanthood

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅fant

  [in-fuhnt]
Use infanthood in a Sentence
–noun
1. a child during the earliest period of its life, esp. before he or she can walk; baby.
2. Law. a person who is not of full age, esp. one who has not reached the age of 18 years; a minor.
3. a beginner, as in experience or learning; novice: The new candidate is a political infant.
4. anything in the first stage of existence or progress.
–adjective
5. of or pertaining to infants or infancy: infant years.
6. being in infancy: an infant king.
7. being in the earliest stage: an infant industry.
8. of or pertaining to the legal state of infancy; minor.
Origin:
1350–1400; < L infant- (s. of infāns) small child, lit., one unable to speak, equiv. to in- in- 3 + -fāns, prp. of fārī to speak; r. ME enfaunt < AF < L, as above

Related forms:
in⋅fant⋅hood, noun
in⋅fant⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

infant 
1376, "child during earliest period of life" (sometimes extended to age 7), from L. infantem (nom. infans) "young child, babe in arms," noun use of adj. meaning "not able to speak," from in- "not" + fans, prp. of fari "speak" (see fame). Infanticide first attested 1656. Infanta "daughter of a king of Spain or Portugal" (1601) is from the Sp. and Port. form of the word. Infantile is 1696, "of or pertaining to infants;" sense of "infant-like" is from 1772.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·fant
Pronunciation: 'in-f&nt
Function: noun
: a person who is not of the age of majority : MINOR —compare ADULT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·fant
Pronunciation: 'in-f&nt
Function: noun
1 a : a child in the first year of life : BABY b : a child several years of age
2 : a person who is not of full age : MINOR —infant adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

infant in·fant (ĭn'fənt)
n.
A child in the earliest period of life, especially before he or she can walk.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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