infancy
NounUS[in-fuhn-see]/ˈɪnfənsi/3 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (2)
- the early stage of growth or developmentSynonyms: babyhoodearly childhoodType of time of lifeParts oral stage, oral phase
- the earliest state of immaturitySynonyms: babyhoodType of immaturity, immatureness
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nebulousadjective
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
In′fan·cy noun
Origin: L. infantia: cf. F. enfance. See Infant.
1. The state or period of being an infant; the first part of life; early childhood.
The babe yet lies in smiling infancy.— John Milton
Their love in early infancy began.— John Dryden
2. The first age of anything; the beginning or early period of existence; as, the infancy of an art.
The infancy and the grandeur of Rome.— John Arbuthnot
3. Law The state or condition of one under age, or under the age of twenty-one years; nonage; minority.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54
The Devil's Dictionary
INFANCY, n. The period of our lives when, according to Wordsworth, "Heaven lies about us." The world begins lying about us pretty soon afterward.