US /ˈnoʊnəd͡ʒ/ UK /ˈnəʊnɪd͡ʒ/
noun Freq #690661

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    the state or period of being below the legal age of adulthood; minority

    During the heir's nonage, a council governed the estate on his behalf.

  2. 2
    noun

    figuratively, an early or immature stage of development

    The historian described the young republic as still in its nonage.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · the state or period of... minoritylegal infancy
2 noun · figuratively, an early or... immaturityinfancy
Word family
Related forms minorunderageage of majority

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-Norman nounage, formed from non- ("not") and age. The legal sense is literally the condition of not yet being of age; the figurative sense applies that period of minority to an immature society, institution, or idea.

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