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infantilism

 - 4 dictionary results

in·fan·ti·lism

   [in-fuhn-tl-iz-uhm, -tahy-liz-, in-fan-tl-iz-uhm]
–noun
1.
the persistence in an adult of markedly childish anatomical, physiological, or psychological characteristics.
2.
an infantile act, trait, etc., esp. in an adult.
3.
a speech disorder characterized by speech and voice patterns that are typical of very young children.
Use infantilism in a Sentence
Origin:
1890–95; infantile + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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World English Dictionary
infantilism (ɪnˈfæntɪˌlɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  psychol
 a.  a condition in which an older child or adult is mentally or physically undeveloped
 b.  isolated instances of infantile behaviour in mature persons
2.  childish speech; baby talk

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Medical Dictionary

in·fan·til·ism definition

Pronunciation: /ˈin-fən-ˌtīl-ˌiz-əm, -tə-ˌliz-; in-ˈfan-təl-ˌiz-/
Function: n
: retention of childish physical, mental, or emotional qualities in adult life
especially : failure to attain sexual maturity
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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infantilism in·fan·til·ism (ĭn'fən-tl-ĭz'əm, ĭn-fān'tl-)
n.

  1. A state of arrested development in an adult, characterized by retention of infantile mentality, accompanied by stunted growth and sexual immaturity, and often by dwarfism.

  2. Extreme immaturity, as in behavior or character.

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