n. 1. A child in the earliest period of life, especially before being able to walk. 2. Law A person under the legal age of majority; a minor. 3. A very young nonhuman mammal, especially a primate. adj. 1. Of or being in infancy. 2. Intended for infants or young children. 3. Newly begun or formed: an infant enterprise. [Middle English, from Old French enfant, from Latin īnfāns, īnfant-, from īnfāns, not able to speak, young : in-, not; see IN-1 + fāns, present participle of fārī, to speak; see bhā-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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