infant
[in-fuh nt]
- a child during the earliest period of its life, especially before he or she can walk; baby.
- Law. a person who is not of full age, especially one who has not reached the age of 18 years; a minor.
- a beginner, as in experience or learning; novice: The new candidate is a political infant.
- anything in the first stage of existence or progress.
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Origin of infant
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for infant
Contemporary Examples
Within six days, however, the infant was admitted to a pediatric hospital with diarrhea, bluish skin, and respiratory failure.
Increased access to reproductive healthcare has resulted in better maternal and infant health outcomes.
Two bowls were set before the infant—one containing gold and jewels, the other hot coals.
An infant too young to have received his first round of shots gasps for air after having been infected with pertussis.
Next door is a shop selling fake vintage Ramones cover T-shirts and infant onesises.
Historical Examples
I was with him when he died, but knew not the hour he departed, for he sunk to rest like an infant.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
He led America out of revolutionary victory into infant nationhood.
Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange accident had befallen hum.
Biographical StoriesNathaniel Hawthorne
This may happen if her own son be an infant, or very far off, or if she have no son.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IIFrancis Augustus Cox
Even when an infant, and in your cradle, you had a soul for poetry.
infant
- a child at the earliest stage of its life; baby
- law another word for minor (def. 10)
- British a young schoolchild, usually under the age of seven
- a person who is beginning or inexperienced in an activity
- (modifier)
- of or relating to young children or infancy
- designed or intended for young children
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- in an early stage of development; nascentan infant science or industry
- law of or relating to the legal status of infancy
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin infāns, literally: speechless, from in- 1 + fārī to speak
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for infant
n.
late 14c., "child during earliest period of life" (sometimes extended to age 7 and sometimes including a fetus), from Latin infantem (nominative infans) "young child, babe in arms," noun use of adjective meaning "not able to speak," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + fans, present participle of fari "speak" (see fame (n.)). As an adjective, 1580s, from the noun.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
infant
(ĭn′fənt)- A child in the earliest period of life, especially before he or she can walk.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.