Category:Infant

In"fant, n. Etym: [L. infans; pref. in- not +fari to speak: cf. F. enfant, whence OE. enfaunt. See Fame, and cf. Infante, Infanta.]

1. A child in the first period of life, beginning at his birth; a young babe; sometimes, a child several years of age. And tender cries of infants pierce the ear. C. Pitt.

2. (Law)

Defn: A person who is not of full age, or who has not attained the age of legal capacity; a person under the age of twenty-one years; a minor.

Note: An infant under seven years of age is not penally responsible; between seven and fourteen years of age, he may be convicted of a malicious offense if malice be proved. He becomes of age on the day preceding his twenty-first birthday, previous to which time an infant has no capacity to contract.

3. Same as Infante. [Obs.] Spenser.

infant In"fant, a.

1. Of or pertaining to infancy, or the first period of life; tender; not mature; as, infant strength.

2. Intended for young children; as, an infant school.

infant In"fant, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. enfanter.]

Defn: To bear or bring forth, as a child; hence, to produce, in general. [Obs.] This worthy motto, "No bishop, no king," is. . . infanted out of the same fears. Milton.