Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Child?

\Child\ (ch[imac]ld), n.; pl. {Children} (ch[i^]l"dr[e^]n). [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth. kil[thorn]ei womb, in-kil[thorn][=o] 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 Edom. 3. 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 people. 4. A noble youth. See {Childe}. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 5. 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? --Shak. {To be with child}, to be pregnant. {Child's play}, light work; a trifling contest.
\Child\, v. 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.