infantlike
fənt noun
1.
a child during the earliest period of its life, especially before he or she can walk; baby.
2.
Law. a person who is not of full age, especially 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.
00:10
Infantlike
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
Origin:
1350–1400; < Latin infant- (stem of infāns) small child, literally, one unable to speak, equivalent to in- in-3 + -fāns, present participle of fārī to speak; replacing Middle English enfaunt < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
1350–1400; < Latin infant- (stem of infāns) small child, literally, one unable to speak, equivalent to in- in-3 + -fāns, present participle of fārī to speak; replacing Middle English enfaunt < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
Related forms
in·fant·hood, noun
in·fant·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To infantlike
Collins
World English Dictionary
infant (ˈɪnfənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a child at the earliest stage of its life; baby |
| 2. | law another word for minor |
| 3. | (Brit) a young schoolchild, usually under the age of seven |
| 4. | a person who is beginning or inexperienced in an activity |
| 5. | (modifier) |
| a. of or relating to young children or infancy | |
| b. designed or intended for young children | |
| —adj | |
| 6. | in an early stage of development; nascent: an infant science or industry |
| 7. | law of or relating to the legal status of infancy |
| [C14: from Latin infāns, literally: speechless, from | |
| 'infanthood | |
| —n | |
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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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
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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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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