Child (chīld), n.; pl.
Children (ch&ibreve;l"dr&ebreve;n). [AS.
cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth. kilþei
womb, in-kilþō with child.] 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.] Chaucer.
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?
Shak.
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.] To give birth; to produce young.
This queen Genissa childing died.
Warner.
It chanced within two days they childed
both.
Latimer.
