Child /(chīld)/

Child

n.

pl. Children ((chĭl"drĕn))

  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.]
  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?

Phrases & Compounds

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

  1. To give birth; to produce young.
    This queen Genissa childing died.
    — Warner.
    It chanced within two days they childed both.