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infant
(in′fənt)
noun
- a very young child; baby
- a person in the state of legal infancy; minor
Origin: ME infaunt < OFr enfant < L infans (gen. infantis), child < adj., not yet speaking < in-, not + fans, prp. of fari, to speak: see fame
adjective
- of or for infants or infancy
- in a very early stage
See infant in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A child in the earliest period of life, especially before he or she can walk.
- Law A person under the legal age of majority; a minor.
- Of or being in infancy.
- Intended for infants or young children.
- Newly begun or formed: an infant enterprise.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French enfant
Origin: , from Latin īnfāns, īnfant-
Origin: , from īnfāns, not able to speak, young
Origin: : in-, not; see in-1
Origin: + fāns
Origin: , present participle of fārī, to speak; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots
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