Child
[tʃaɪld]
Definition
(noun.) a young person of either sex; 'she writes books for children'; 'they're just kids'; '`tiddler' is a British term for youngster'.
(noun.) a human offspring (son or daughter) of any age; 'they had three children'; 'they were able to send their kids to college'.
(noun.) an immature childish person; 'he remained a child in practical matters as long as he lived'; 'stop being a baby!'.
(noun.) a member of a clan or tribe; 'the children of Israel'.
Checked by Helena--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) 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.
(n.) A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.
(n.) 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.
(n.) A noble youth. See Childe.
(n.) 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.
(n.) A female infant.
(v. i.) To give birth; to produce young.
Checked by Charlie
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [pl. Children.] [1]. Infant, babe, baby, nursling, suckling, chit, brat, bantling, bairn, little one.[2]. Young person.[3]. Offspring, issue, progeny.
Edited by Lester
Definition
n. an infant or very young person: (Shak.) a female infant: one intimately related to one older: expressing origin or relation e.g. child of the East child of shame child of God &c.: a disciple: a youth of gentle birth esp. in ballads &c.—sometimes Childe and Chylde: (pl.) offspring: descendants: inhabitants:—pl. Chil′dren.—ns. Child′-bear′ing the act of bringing forth children; Child′bed the state of a woman brought to bed with child; Child′birth the giving birth to a child: parturition; Child′-crow′ing a nervous affection with spasm of the muscles closing the glottis.—adj. Child′ed (Shak.) possessed of a child.—n. Child′hood state of being a child: the time of one's being a child.—adjs. Child′ing (Shak.) fruitful teeming; Child′ish of or like a child: silly: trifling.—adv. Child′ishly.—ns. Child′ishness Child′ness what is natural to a child: puerility.—adjs. Child′less without children; Child′-like like a child: becoming a child: docile: innocent.—n. Child′-wife a very young wife.—Child's play something very easy to do: something slight.—From or Of a Child since the days of childhood.—Second childhood the childishness of old age.—With child pregnant e.g. Get with child Be or Go with child.
Edited by Katy
Examples
- You naughty, wicked child,--you've been stealing this! Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- O child, the human heart _can_ suffer! Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- In speaking of education Plato rather startles us by affirming that a child must be trained in falsehood first and in truth afterwards. Plato. The Republic.
- My son Johnny, named so after his uncle, was at the grammar-school, and a towardly child. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- And from the safety of his overhanging limb the ape-child sent back the fearsome answer of his kind. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- The aspect of piteous distress on his face, almost as imploring a merciful and kind judgment from his child, gave her a sudden sickening. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- We do not have to draw out or educe positive activities from a child, as some educational doctrines would have it. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- She was rather surprised at Dr. Donaldson's early visit, and perplexed by the anxious faces of husband and child. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- They say that hardly a native child in all the East is free from sore eyes, and that thousands of them go blind of one eye or both every year. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- When Mr Crich heard that Gudrun Brangwen might come to help Winifred with her drawing and modelling he saw a road to salvation for his child. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- I should then have done all that a man in my position could do to serve the interests of my old friend's only child. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- It was a child singing a merry, lightsome air; there was no other sound. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- She rose and held up the child kicking and crowing in her arMs. Do you know who this is, Walter? Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- He had only to describe himself as a seven months' child. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Love, and her child, Hope, which can bestow wealth on poverty, strength on the weak, and happiness on the sorrowing. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Even the children were instructed, each to dip a wooden spoon into Mr. Micawber's pot, and pledge us in its contents. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- If God would give me back my children, then I could pray. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Don't tell me, Mrs. Archer would say to her children, all this modern newspaper rubbish about a New York aristocracy. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- Secondly, In Pennsylvania there is no right of primogeniture, and lands, like moveables, are divided equally among all the children of the family. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- His place is there as well as yours, and the children need him. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- He was very imperious, and harsh to the children. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Not to mention that women and children are most subject to pity, as being most guided by that faculty. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- I am sure she will be pleased with the children. Jane Austen. Emma.
- We were sidetracked for a long time this side of Mestre and children came and peeked in. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Their notions relating to the duties of parents and children differ extremely from ours. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- He used to tell me that I was the most beautiful woman in Louisiana, he was so proud of me and the children. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Can it give me back my children, or make me what I used to be? Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- I bemoaned my desolate widow and fatherless children. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- If she leaves no children---- Which she is likely to do? Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- How many children had this man? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
Edited by Gene