Word Direct Answers

What does "child" mean?

Child: A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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.
  2. 3.A noble youth. See Childe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  3. 4.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.
  4. 5.Cor. xii.
  5. 6.6. 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.
  6. 7.To give birth; to produce young. This queen Genissa childing died. Warner. It chanced within two days they childed both. Latimer.

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