† youngth Obs.
Forms: α. 4 ȝungþe, ȝonkþe, youngþe, -the, 4–5 ȝongþe, -the, yongthe, 4–6 yongth, 5 ȝungth(e, yongith, ȝonþ, 6–7 youngth. β. 4 ȝingþe, ȝyngheth, ȝinkthe.
[f. young a. + -th1.]
1. The state of being young, or period of life when one is young: = youth 1, 2.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2807 Yn ȝungþe or elde. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 6269 Þe leuedis..hadde wonder of his ȝingþe [rime strengþe]. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xiv. 47 (Harl. MS.) [He] servid god in all the tyme of his yongith. 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. xxii. (1883) II. 343, I haue knowen men of worshippe..whiche durynge their yongth haue dronken for the more parte water. 1590 Spenser Muiop. 34 The fresh yong flie, in whom the kindly fire Of lustfull youngth began to kindle fast. 1602 Davison Rhapsody C 12, Ah Thenot, be not all thy teeth on edge, To see youngths folke to sport in pastimes gay? [After Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 9 Yougthes folke: see youth 4.] |
2. Young people collectively: = youth 5.
| 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour cxxi, The goddesse Venus, whiche hath grete power vpon yongthe. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. Pref. **vij, The vnbroken youngth not yet full rype for the serious preceptes of philosophie. |
Hence † youngthed pa. pple., made young; † youngthly a., pertaining to youth, youthful.
| c 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. iii. 126 Hys body is *ȝonthyd [v.r. yongthed], he þinketh hym-self ful lygth. 1602 Davison Rhapsody C 11 b, All for he feeles the heate of *youngthly dayes. |