Childbirth
(Child"birth) n. The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labor. Jer. Taylor.
Childcrowing
(Child"crow`ing) n. (Med.) The crowing noise made by children affected with spasm of
the laryngeal muscles; false croup.
Childe
(Childe) n. A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son, until he succeeded to
his ancestral titles, or was knighted; as, Childe Roland.
Childed
(Child"ed) a. Furnished with a child. [Obs.]
Childermas day
(Chil"dermas day`) [AS. cildamæsse- dæg; cild child +dæg day.] (Eccl.) A day (December
28) observed by mass or festival in commemoration of the children slain by Herod at Bethlehem; —
called also Holy Innocent's Day.
Childhood
(Child"hood) n. [AS. cildhad; cild child + -had. See Child, and -hood.]
1. The state of being a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to
puberty.
I have walked before you from my childhood.
1. Sam. xii. 2.
2. Children, taken collectively. [R.]
The well-governed childhood of this realm.
Sir. W. Scott.
3. The commencement; the first period.
The childhood of our joy.
Shak.
Second childhood, the state of being feeble and incapable from old age.
Childing
(Child"ing) a. [See Child, v. i.] Bearing Children; (Fig.) productive; fruitful. [R.] Shak.
Childish
(Child"ish), a.
1. Of, pertaining to, befitting, or resembling, a child. "Childish innocence." Macaulay.
2. Puerile; trifling; weak.
Methinks that simplicity in her countenance is rather childish than innocent.
Addison.
Childish, as applied to persons who are grown up, is in a disparaging sense; as, a childish temper.
Childishly
(Child"ish*ly), adv. In the manner of a child; in a trifling way; in a weak or foolish manner.
Childishness
(Child"ish*ness), n. The state or quality of being childish; simplicity; harmlessness; weakness
of intellect.
Childlessness
(Child"less*ness), n. The state of being childless.
Childlike
(Child"like) a. Resembling a child, or that which belongs to children; becoming a child; meek; submissive; dutiful.
"Childlike obedience." Hooker.
Childlike, as applied to persons grown up, is commonly in a good sense; as, childlike grace or simplicity;
childlike modesty.
Childly
(Child"ly), a. Having the character of a child; belonging, or appropriate, to a child. Gower.
