childlinessn.
/ˈtʃʌɪl(d)lɪnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈtʃaɪl(d)linᵻs/ The quality of being childly; childishness, childlikeness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > child > [noun] > quality of
childhoodlOE
childheada1325
childishness1526
childlikeness1744
bread-and-butterishness1843
childlinessa1846
the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [noun] > childlikeness
childlikeness1744
childlinessa1846
a1846 in J. C. Hare Mission of Comforter (1846) II. 878 On a renewed study of his works, the holy faith and energy of his thoroughly German character, the truth of his whole being, his wonderful childliness [Ger. Kindlichkeit] and simplicity, revealed themselves to my sight in their glory.
1860 B. F. Westcott Introd. Study Gospels vii. 360 Humility, childliness and self-sacrifice..are set forth as the conditions of entrance into the kingdom.
1908 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Daily Press 24 Jan. 1/1 The kind old lady has received the best of care from the Nuns who are ever ready and willing to make anyone's life as full of sunshine as possible, however advanced the age and childliness of their charge.
1925 Palo Alto (Emmetsburg, Iowa) Tribune 26 Aug. 6/2 He..tonight would hold Anne Coddington in his arms. The thought was unbearable. The unbounded enthusiasm I had felt at the unexpected meeting with him gave place to childliness that gradually enveloped my heart.
2008 C. W. Butler Talk & Social Interaction in Playground i. 15 The analysis adopts a position of indifference towards the childliness of the participants.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1846