youngest, a.
(ˈjʌŋgɪst)
Forms: 1 ᵹingest, ᵹingæst, ᵹingst, 3 ȝeongeste, ȝengestte, ȝongest(e, -ist, -ost(e, 3–6 ȝungest(e, 4 ȝingest, yongeist, Sc. ȝongast, ȝungaste, 4–6 ȝongest, yongest, 5 ȝongust, 6 yoongest, 6– youngest.
[f. young a. + -est. (The normal mutated OE. form ᵹingest did not survive.)]
The superlative degree of young a.; opposed to eldest, oldest.
1. In sense 1 of young: Of least age. Also absol.
| c 893 ælfred Oros. i. iv. §1 Ioseph, se þe ᵹingst wæs hys ᵹebroðra. c 1205 Lay. 3460 Mi ȝengestte [c 1275 ȝeongeste] dohter. Ibid. 6955 Þe ȝungeste of þan breðeren. 13.. Cursor M. 7391 (Gött.) Quer es þin alder ȝingest son? 1390 Gower Conf. I. 148 The yongest of hem hadde of age Fourtiene yer. 1464 Paston Lett. II. 153 Your sone and lowly servant, John Paston, the yongest. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 391 When suche questions be asked, the yongest both of the spiritualitie and temporalitie say their opinions first. 1611 Cotgr., Qulocul,..the last, or youngest child one hath. 1826 Miss Mitford Village Ser. ii. Walk through Vill., They are a fine family from the eldest to the youngest. 1852 Miss Mulock Agatha's Husb. xii, She and the youngest Miss Harper eyed one another uncomfortably. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxii. 156 My guide,..with his strong right arm round the youngest of the party. |
2. In senses 2 and 3 of young: Belonging to the earliest part of life, earliest; most youthful in character or aspect, freshest. rare.
| c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxxxviii. xi, Thou dost me fill, And hast from yongest yeares, With terrifying feares. 1818 Keats Endym. i. 42 While the early budders are just new, And run in mazes of the youngest hue About old forests. |
3. In senses 4 and 5 of young: Most newly initiated, begun, introduced, etc.; latest, most recent.
| Beowulf 2817 Þæt wæs þam gomelan Ᵹingæste word breostᵹehyᵹdum, ær he bæl cure, hate heaðowylmas. c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xli. 300 Ure Aliesend..he hiene ᵹemedemade to bionne betweox ðæm læstum & ðæm ᵹingestum monnum. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxxxix. ii, Not yongest thought in me doth grow,..But yet unutt'red thou dost know. 1596 Edw. III, ii. ii. 117 Since Letherne Adam till this youngest howre. 1797 Nelson 5 Apr. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 27 To go youngest into the Britannia. |
b. youngest hand (in Card-playing): the last player, or the last except the dealer (opp. to eldest hand, eldest 5).
| 1680 Cotton Compl. Gamester 66 If the eldest and second hand pass the Ruff the youngest hath power to double it, and then it is to be plaid for the next deal. Ibid. 89 This being done, the eldest must show how many Chalks he hath in his hand to set up, and after him the youngest. 1720 R. Seymour Compl. Gamester (1734) 74 If the youngest Hand names his Trump without asking Leave. |
4. Comb., as youngest-born.
| 1596 Markham Poem of Poems ii. xi, Now with their [sc. the vines'] smallest grapes, times yongest borne Clustred in bunches like a countlesse broode. 1833 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) II. 414 Music, the youngest-born heaven's benevolence. 1838 Lytton Alice viii. iii, Our youngest⁓born affection is our darling and our idol. |