infantilism
[in-fuh n-tl-iz-uh m, -tahy-liz-, in-fan-tl-iz-uh m]
noun
the persistence in an adult of markedly childish anatomical, physiological, or psychological characteristics.
an infantile act, trait, etc., especially in an adult.
a speech disorder characterized by speech and voice patterns that are typical of very young children.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
- infantile progressive spinal muscular atrophy,
- infantile purulent conjunctivitis,
- infantile scurvy,
- infantile sexuality,
- infantile spasm,
- infantilize,
- infantine,
- infantry,
- infantry fighting vehicle,
- infantryman
Origin of infantilism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for infantilism
The significance of "infantile sexual lesions" has also tended to give place to that of "infantilism of sexuality."
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)|Havelock EllisOne of these suffered from infantilism, one turned out to be a drunkard, and the third became a social degenerate and drunkard.
Being Well-Born|Michael F. GuyerIt is quite unnecessary to construct such dreams as a return to infantilism, as a regression, as the Freudians generally do.
Psychoanalysis|Andr Tridon
infantilism
noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
infantilism
1894 in a psychological sense; see infantile + -ism. Earlier in a physiological sense, "retarded and imperfect physical development."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
infantilism
[ĭn′fən-tl-ĭz′əm, ĭn-făn′tl-]
n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.