youthful, a.
(ˈjuːθfʊl)
[f. youth + -ful.]
1. Having or characterized by youth; that is still young.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. i. 14 The youthfull knight could not for ought be staide. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 52 In vnlawfull loue, A sinne preuailing much in youthfull men. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 77 This Prince being youthfull, cast behinde him all care of the Empire. 1703 Rowe Fair Penit. iii. 32 Is she not more than Painting can express, Or youthful Poets fancy, when they love? 1832 W. Irving Alhambra xxiii. II. 37 A youthful princess, in the very sweetness and bloom of her years. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 129 Here we have..an unmistakable attack made by the youthful Socrates. |
2. transf. Of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for, youth or the young; juvenile.
| 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer ii. X iij, Alonso Carillo..hauynge committed certein youthfull partes that were of no great importance, was..caried to prison. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 111 Idlenesse is..ye sole maintenaunce of youthful [later edd. youthly] affection. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. vii. 160 The leane and slipper'd Pantaloone,..His youthfull hose well sau'd, a world too wide, For his shrunke shanke. 1632 Milton L'Allegro 26 Jest and youthful Jollity. 1723 C. Walker Mem. Sally Salisb. 10 Dress and Dancing were the sole Youthful Delights of our Sally. 1799 H. More Fem. Educ. (ed. 4) I. 173 That profusion of little..sentimental books with which the youthful library overflows. 1848 Dickens Dombey xxxv, Mrs. Skewton..appropriately attired for that purpose in a very youthful costume. 1901 Jacobs Light Freights 228 An ancient eye watched with almost youthful impatience the slow warming of a mug of beer on the hob. |
3. fig. That is in its early stage, early, new; also, having the freshness or vigour of youth.
| 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iii. i. 18 O earth! I will befriend thee more with raine That shall distill from these two ancient ruines, Then youthfull Aprill shall with all his showres In summers drought. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage i. vii. 34 The larger stature..of men in those youthfull times and age of the world. 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. i. 24 Perfect Felicity, such as after millions and millions of Ages is still youthfull and flourishing. 1777 Potter æschylus, Agamemnon 256 The youthfull bloom of rosy love. 1830 Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 147 There may be a connexion between an extraordinary profusion of monocotyledonous plants and a youthful condition of the world. 1877 Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Oct. 11/1 A youthful and astringent Tinta, an aromatic Malmsey of fabulous value. |
4. Comb. youthful-looking adj.
| 1846 Poe in Godey's Mag. July 15/1 The likeness conveys a good general idea of the man, but it is far too stout and youthful-looking for his appearance at present. 1954 W. Faulkner Fable 8 A man not so young actually, but rather simply youthful-looking. 1977 New Yorker 19 Sept. 66/3 Mrs. McCabe is a youthful-looking woman. |
Hence youthfullity (nonce-wd.), youthfulness; pl. youthful acts or follies.
| 1763 H. Walpole Let. to G. Montagu 15 Aug., You see my impetuosity does not abate much: no, nor my youthfullity. 1764 ― Let. to C. Churchill 27 Mar., You do not suspect me, I hope, of any youthfullities. |