Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Child
Child
(chīld)
, Noun.
pl.
Children
(chĭl′drĕn)
. [AS.
cild
, pl. cildru
; cf. Goth. kilþei
womb, in-kilþō
with child.] 1.
A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; – in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.
2.
A descendant, however remote; – used esp. in the plural;
as, the
. children
of Israel; the children
of Edom3.
One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.;
as, a
. child
of God; a child
of the devil; a child
of disobedience; a child
of toil; a child
of the people5.
A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc.
When I was
child
. I spake as a child
, I understood as a child
, I thought as a child
; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1. Cor. xii. 11.
6.
A female infant.
[Obs.]
A boy or a
child
, I wonder? Shakespeare
To be with child
, to be pregnant.
– Child’s play
, light work; a trifling contest.
Child
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Childed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Childing
.] To give birth; to produce young.
This queen Genissa
childing
died. Warner.
It chanced within two days they
childed
both. Latimer.
Webster 1828 Edition
Child
CHILD
, n.1.
A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of parents; applied to the human race, and chiefly to a person when young. The term is applied to infants from their birth; but the time when they cease ordinarily to be so called, is not defined by custom. In strictness, a child is the shoot, issue or produce of the parents, and a person of any age, in respect to the parents, is a child.An infant.
Hagar cast the child under one of the shrubs. Gen. 21.
It signifies also a person of more advanced years.
Jephthas daughter was his only child. Judges 11.
The child shall behave himself proudly. Is. 3.
A curse will be on those who corrupt the morals of their children.
The application of child to a female in opposition to a male, as in Shakspeare, is not legitimate.
2.
One weak in knowledge, experience, judgment or attainments; as, he is a mere child.Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child. Jer. 1.
3.
One young in grace. 1 John 2.One who is unfixed in principles. Eph. 4.
4.
One who is born again, spiritually renewed and adopted; as a child of God.5.
One who is the product of another; or whose principles and morals are the product of another.Thou child of the devil. Acts 13.
That which is the product or effect of something else.
This noble passion, child of integrity.
6.
In the plural, the descendants of a man however remote; as the children of Israel; the children of Edom.7.
The inhabitants of a country; as the children of Seir. 2 Chron. 25.To be with child, to be pregnant. Gen. 16:11, Gen. 29:36.
CHILD
,Verb.
I.