infant

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled hinfant

US /ˈɪn.fənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #8910

Meanings

1

noun
A very young child or baby.

The infant slept peacefully in her mother's arms.
2

adj
In a very early stage of development.

The company is still in its infant years.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a very young child or baby. baby

Word family

Forms infants

Derived forms infantcareinfanthoodinfantizeinfantlikeinfantlyinfantocracyinfantometerinfantophileinfantophiliainfantophobeinfantophobiainfantorium

Related forms infancyinfantainfanteinfanteerinfanticideinfantierinfantile infantry

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.

*bʰeh₂- Proto-Indo-European infaunt Middle English enfanter xno

View etymology graph ->

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# infant

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈɪn.fənt/
**Frequency rank:** 8910

## Meanings
1. A very young child or baby.
2. In a very early stage of development.

## Examples
- The infant slept peacefully in her mother's arms.
- The company is still in its infant years.

## Derived Forms
- infantcare
- infanthood
- infantize
- infantlike
- infantly
- infantocracy
- infantometer
- infantophile
- infantophilia
- infantophobe
- infantophobia
- infantorium

## Related Forms
- infancy
- infanta
- infante
- infanteer
- infanticide
- infantier
- infantile
- infantry

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰeh₂-
- Root: infaunt
- Root: enfanter

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.

## AI Etymology
Infant is inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. The historical line also includes *bʰeh₂-.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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infant

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