Youth"ful (?), a. 1.
Not yet mature or aged; young. "Two youthful
knights." Dryden. Also used figuratively. "The
youthful season of the year." Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the early part of life;
suitable to early life; as, youthful days; youthful
sports. "Warm, youthful blood." Shak.
"Youthful thoughts." Milton.
3. Fresh; vigorous, as in youth.
After millions of millions of ages . . . still
youthful and flourishing.
Bentley.
Syn. -- Puerile; juvenile. -- Youthful,
Puerile, Juvenile. Puerile is always used in a
bad sense, or at least in the sense of what is suitable to a boy only;
as, puerile objections, puerile amusements, etc.
Juvenile is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when speaking of
youth in contrast with manhood; as, juvenile tricks; a
juvenile performance. Youthful is commonly employed in a
good sense; as, youthful aspirations; or at least by way of
extenuating; as, youthful indiscretions. "Some men, imagining
themselves possessed with a divine fury, often fall into toys and
trifles, which are only puerilities." Dryden. "Raw,
juvenile writers imagine that, by pouring forth figures often,
they render their compositions warm and animated." Blair.
-- Youth"ful*ly, adv. --
Youth"ful*ness, n.
Youth"ful (?), a. 1.
Not yet mature or aged; young. "Two youthful
knights." Dryden. Also used figuratively. "The
youthful season of the year." Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the early part of life;
suitable to early life; as, youthful days; youthful
sports. "Warm, youthful blood." Shak.
"Youthful thoughts." Milton.
3. Fresh; vigorous, as in youth.
After millions of millions of ages . . . still
youthful and flourishing.
Bentley.
Syn. -- Puerile; juvenile. -- Youthful,
Puerile, Juvenile. Puerile is always used in a
bad sense, or at least in the sense of what is suitable to a boy only;
as, puerile objections, puerile amusements, etc.
Juvenile is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when speaking of
youth in contrast with manhood; as, juvenile tricks; a
juvenile performance. Youthful is commonly employed in a
good sense; as, youthful aspirations; or at least by way of
extenuating; as, youthful indiscretions. "Some men, imagining
themselves possessed with a divine fury, often fall into toys and
trifles, which are only puerilities." Dryden. "Raw,
juvenile writers imagine that, by pouring forth figures often,
they render their compositions warm and animated." Blair.
-- Youth"ful*ly, adv. --
Youth"ful*ness, n.
