youngestadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈjʌŋɡᵻst/, U.S.

/ˈjəŋɡəst/

Forms:

α. early Old English ginst (perhaps transmission error), Old English gincst- (inflected form), Old English gingast, Old English gingæst, Old English gingest, Old English gingst- (inflected form), Old English ginst- (inflected form), Old English gyngest, Old English gyngst- (inflected form), Old English gynst- (inflected form), early Middle English ȝingast, early Middle English ȝingst- (inflected form), early Middle English ȝyncest, Middle English ȝingest, Middle English yingeste.

β. Old English geongest, Old English geongost, Old English iongyst, Old English–early Middle English gungest, late Old English gugest (Kentish, transmission error), early Middle English gunkest, early Middle English ȝeongest (south-western), Middle English ȝongest, Middle English ȝongeste, Middle English ȝongist, Middle English ȝongost, Middle English ȝongust, Middle English ȝoungest, Middle English ȝungest, Middle English ȝungeste, Middle English ȝunguest, Middle English yongeist, Middle English yonges (perhaps transmission error), Middle English yongeste, Middle English yonggys, Middle English yongist, Middle English yongyste, Middle English–1600s yongest, late Middle English yonest (transmission error), late Middle English– youngest, 1500s yoongest, 1600s youngist; Scottish pre-1700 ȝongast, pre-1700 ȝongest, pre-1700 ȝoungast, pre-1700 ȝoungest, pre-1700 ȝungaste, pre-1700 ȝungest, pre-1700 ȝungeste, pre-1700 yhongast, pre-1700 yhongest, pre-1700 yhungast, pre-1700 yhungest, pre-1700 younest, pre-1700 youngast, pre-1700 1700s– youngest.

γ. early Middle English ȝengestt- (inflected form), early Middle English ȝengost.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymons: young adj., -est suffix.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian jungest , Old Dutch jungist (only in te jungist , adverb, Middle Dutch joncst , Dutch jongst ), Old Saxon jungist (Middle Low German jüngest ), Old High German jungisto (Middle High German jungest , jungst , German jüngst ), Old Icelandic yngstr , Old Swedish yngster (Swedish yngst ), Old Danish yngstæ , plural (Danish yngst ) < the Germanic base of young adj. + the Germanic base of -est suffix. Compare eldest adj. and later oldest adj.The α. forms apparently show i-mutation of the stem vowel, caused by the suffix (compare discussion at -est suffix); the initial /j/ (in Old English frequently spelt g- ) probably also influenced the vowel. Compare also the β. forms at young adj. and n.¹ and the discussion and references at that entry. The β. forms show levelling after the α. forms at young adj. and n.¹ With use with reference to time (see sense A. 3) compare the following related adverb uses in other West Germanic languages, e.g. Old Dutch te jungist in the end, finally (Middle Dutch ten joncsten, Dutch jongst), Old High German zi jungist, jungist in the end, finally (Middle High German ze jungeste in the end, finally, jungeste recently, German jüngst recently), Middle Low German te jüngest in the end, finally, jüngest, recently.

A. adj. The superlative of young adj. Opposed to eldest adj., oldest adj.

1. That has lived the shortest time; most youthful; of the lowest age. Also: having the mental or physical characteristics of the most youthful person in a particular context. Cf. young adj. 1, 3.In quot. 1464 as postmodifier with the, used to distinguish the youngest of two people of the same name in a family; cf. younger adj. 1b.

ΘΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [adjective] > younger than an age > youngest

youngesteOE

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. v. 23 Ioseph, se þe ginst [perh. read gingst; L. minimus aetate] wæs hys gebroðra.

OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xlii. 20 Beo eower an broðor her on cwearterne..& lædaþ eowerne geongestan broþor to me.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1728 Mi ȝengestte [c1300 Otho ȝeongeste] dohter.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7391 Quer es þin alder ȝingest son?

1464 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 526 Youyr sone and lowly seruant John Paston þe yongest.

1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon ii. xxi. sig. B.iii^v/2 The yongest leues chopped stamped and dystylled.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 310 The hands of death, which will dis-figure euen the yongest body.

1657 M. Lawrence Use & Pract. Faith 15 The youngest plants thrust their fibra's into the earth.

a1730 E. Fenton tr. Secundus in G. Ogle et al. tr. Secundus Basia (1731) xviii. 49 Averse be ev'ry Arrow sped; From Love averse and tipt with Lead. Such! as the softest Bosom steels! Such! as the youngest Blood congeals!

1795 W. Winterbotham Hist. View Amer. U.S. II. 102 The homestead is generally given to the youngest son, who provides for his parents when age and infirmity incapacitates them for labour.

1818 J. Keats Endymion i. 5 While the early budders are just new, And run in mazes of the youngest hue About old forests.

1852 D. M. Mulock Agatha's Husband xii She and the youngest Miss Harper eyed one another uncomfortably.

1917 ‘O. Douglas’ Setons v. 77 Why, Father, you're the youngest person I have ever known. You're only about half the age of this weary worldling your daughter.

1959 J. Thompson Getaway xv. 83 There were nine of them, husband and wife and seven stair-step children—the youngest a toddling tot, the oldest a rawboned boy.

2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives xvii. 163 The three youngest kids were towheaded, bronzed and prepubescent.

2. That has had the least experience or practice; most junior. Also in early use: of lowest status, least significant. Cf. young adj. 5.

ΘΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > inexperienced > very little experienced

youngesteOE

leasta1586

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xli. 301 Ure Aliesend..hine gemedomode to bionne betwuix ðæm læsðum & ðæm gingestum monnum [L. fieri inter omnia dignatus est paruus].

c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 113 Y, unworthiest and ȝongist and louȝest of prelatis.

1589 L. Ward in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 763 Then the generall receiued the opinions of vs his assistants, beginning with the yoongest in authority first.

1670 G. Harvey Little Venus Unmask'd (ed. 2) Introd. sig. A3 Those notions that were wrapt up in hard words, and obscure descriptions, I have here unchained, and set free, so that the youngest Novices in practice may easily apprehend them.

1729 Miseries of Goals 29 The youngest Prisoner is made Scavenger, and the second youngest is made Constable; and three Weeks after a Person is out of these Offices, he is chose Assistant for the Ward he belongs to.

1756 Bill for Better Ordering of Militia Forces 25 The officers of the militia shall, during such time, rank with the officers of his Majesty's forces of equal degree with them, as the youngest of their rank.

1797 Ld. Nelson 5 Apr. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 27 To go youngest into the Britannia.

1827 N.-Y. Lit. Gaz. 17 Feb. 177/2 Rudolph was the youngest in a double sense—youngest in years, and youngest in the service: for both reasons he was to throw last.

1905 Textile World Rec. Dec. 135/2 I am perhaps one of the youngest in experience, although not in age, in the manufacture of hosiery.

1997 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 4 Mar. d14 Our club is, I think, the fourth-youngest in age in the league... But we're the youngest in experience.

3. Most recently created, begun, introduced, etc.; that is at the earliest stage; latest. Cf. young adj. 6.In quot. OE: last.

ΘΠ

the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > newness or novelty > recency > [adjective] > most recent

youngestOE

last1411

latest1447

OE Beowulf (2008) 2817 Þæt wæs þam gomelan gingæste word breostgehygdum, ær he bæl cure.

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxxxix. 12 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 234 Not yongest thought in me doth grow,..But yet vnutt'red thou dost know.

1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. D4 Since Letherne Adam, till this youngest howre.

1615 D. Digges Def. Trade 11 The last consistance of shipping propounded, was that of the East Indies: which though yongest, was found in shew and state to haue ouer-topped all the rest.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Younger Regiment or Officer, in Military Affairs, that Regiment is counted Youngest, which was last rais'd.

1789 W. Cullen Treat. Materia Medica I. ii. 382 Nature..has made it of a very alkalescent quality, from whence it is tender; and even in its youngest state, from the same quality, it is a heating food.

1832 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. i. iii. 201 If this theca [of a moss] be examined in its youngest state, it will be seen to form one of several small sessile ovate bodies.

1866 Art-Jrnl. 5 54/2 A school of Art destined to shed its radiance over the youngest country of the world's existence.

1950 Life 20 Mar. 22 (advt.) Kickerinos styled for cavorting and careering, for teaming comfort with the youngest ideas afoot.

1977 J. Monaco How to read Film v. 297 Much of this sort of after-the-fact cogitation was the result of film's own inferiority complex as the youngest of the arts.

2007 A. Theroux Laura Warholic xxii. 319 The Orion Nebula, the shiningest, youngest, closest, and most romantic nebula in the northern winter sky.

4. Designating the earliest part of (one's) life; earliest. Often with possessive adjective. Chiefly in youngest days, youngest years. Cf. young adj. 4, younger adj. 3.

ΘΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > youth > [adjective] > belonging to early part of life

younger1538

springing1556

youngest1570

junior1606

vernant1793

vernal1794

in bud1847

1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Spirituall Husbandry i. in tr. Popish Kingdome f. 67 Thus would I haue him liue with men that good and vertuous bee, In yongest yeares, when as you list you bow the tender tree [no direct parallel in L. original].

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxxviii. 64 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 130 Thou dost me fill, And hast from yongest yeares, With terrifying feares.

1673 R. Baxter Christian Directory ii. xii. 552 As a runner as soon as he beginneth his race is hasting to the end of it; so are your lives even in your youngest time.

1758 tr. Voltaire Maid of Orleans I. vii. 129 From her youngest years she could never be reproached for any other crime than that of indulging her amorous disposition.

1819 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 5 77/1 Often have I been a sharer in such scenes; and never, even in my youngest years, without having my heart deeply impressed by the circumstances.

1848 Punch 14 195/1 Any one's voice, in his youngest days, is a somewhat disagreeable compound of the creaking of a door and the whining of a cat.

1911 M. P. E. Groszmann Career of Child viii. 144 The youngest years of the child's school life, including at least the so-called first grade.

2003 Honolulu Advertiser 2 Oct. b1 From his youngest days as the son of a cellist,..music was his life.

B. n.

The youngest person (or animal, etc.) in a particular context; esp. (sometimes with possessive) the youngest child or sibling.

ΘΠ

the world > people > person > junior person > [noun]

youngestOE

youngerOE

juniora1530

young blood1557

puny1567

puisne1592

kid1690

minimus1848

baby1854

minor1864

OE Will of Æðelgifu (Sawyer 1497) in D. Whitelock Will of Æthelgifu (1968) 13 Freoge mon Man hire goldsmið, & his eldestan sunu, & þone ginstan.

OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xliv. 12 He sohte fram þam yldestan oþ þone gynstan, oþ he funde þone læfel on Beniamines sacce.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3467 Þe ȝungeste of þan breðeren.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 3133 The yongest of hem hadde of age Fourtiene yer.

c1500 Melusine (1895) 125 Two yong & fayre damoyseaulx brethren,..of whiche theldest is called Vryan, & that youngest Guyon.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 391 When suche questions be asked, the yongest both of the spiritualtie and temporaltie say their opinions first.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. i. 137 Till by helping Baptista[']s eldest daughter to a husband, wee set his yongest free for a husband.

1660 T. Fuller Mixt Contempl. ii. xxiii. 36 I alwaies made the most of the youngest.

1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman June xi. 117 Let the eldest have the first Head of Milk, the middlemost next, and the youngest afterwards get what they can.

1780 E. Griffith Times ii. 18 He apprenticed my eldest boy, last week, and pays for the schooling of the two youngest.

1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 6 They are a fine family from the eldest to the youngest.

1897 E. Ingersoll Wild Neighbors viii. 233 Not the full-grown fowls are his victims, but the youngest, most tender.

1911 E. J. Muddle's Picture Plays 10 The public..demands good, clean, wholesome pictures, to which it can take every member of its household, from the youngest upwards.

1972 L. A. Murray Poems against Economics 6 Prosperous, well-mannered children Gentle with cows. Even the youngest's a dairyman.

2011 New Yorker 6 June 63/1 When Vinnie arrived home, she found her whole family waiting..all but her youngest, Samuel, who hid under a blanket.

Compounds

youngest-born adj. and n. (a) adj. last-born, youngest; (b) n. a youngest child or sibling; cf. eldest-born n. at eldest adj. Compounds; also in extended use.

ΘΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > next-born, last-born, etc.

middlec1275

youngest-borna1325

next-born?a1400

last-born1609

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2160 His x sunes iacob for-ðan Sente in-to egipt... He bilef at hom ðe was gungest boren.

1596 G. Markham Poem of Poems ii. sig. B8^v Now with their [sc. the vines'] smallest grapes, times yongest borne Clustred in bunches like a countlesse broode.

1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 371 France, that dowerles Tooke our yongest borne .

1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice III. viii. iii. 35 Our youngest-born affection is our darling and our idol.

1996 Times (Nexis) 26 Aug. The American philosopher and founding father Benjamin Franklin..was a seventh-generation youngest-born.

2005 A. Daniels Love Uncovered xii. 227 Identical brandy-colored eyes brimmed with tenderness as she spoke to her youngest-born child.

youngest hand n. Cards (now rare) the last player, or the last except the dealer, to play or bid at the start of a game (opposed to eldest hand n. at eldest adj. 5); cf. younger hand n. at younger adj. and n. Compounds.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > card-player > first, last, etc., player

eldest hand1599

younger hand1669

youngest hand1674

leader1677

fourth1803

1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester xv. 129 In the lifting for dealing the least deals, which is a great disadvantage; for that makes the Dealer youngest hand.

1720 R. Seymour Compl. Gamester (1734) 74 If the youngest Hand names his Trump without asking Leave.

1797 Sporting Mag. Nov. 81/1 If the youngest hand can't win that trick, and although he has a deuce left in his hand for the last card, he is not safe, or sure of tieing.

1821 G. Long Hoyle's Games Improved 162 The youngest hand..may call a sight... If he calls a sight the cards must be shown in rotation, the player who calls showing last, and the best hand shown wins the pool.

1913 E. V. Shepard Sci. Auction Bridge 27 The remaining player, who sits at declarer's right, is known as ‘pone’, ‘youngest hand’, or ‘younger’.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	youngest
释义	youngestadj.n. Brit. /ˈjʌŋɡᵻst/, U.S. /ˈjəŋɡəst/ Forms: α. early Old English ginst (perhaps transmission error), Old English gincst- (inflected form), Old English gingast, Old English gingæst, Old English gingest, Old English gingst- (inflected form), Old English ginst- (inflected form), Old English gyngest, Old English gyngst- (inflected form), Old English gynst- (inflected form), early Middle English ȝingast, early Middle English ȝingst- (inflected form), early Middle English ȝyncest, Middle English ȝingest, Middle English yingeste. β. Old English geongest, Old English geongost, Old English iongyst, Old English–early Middle English gungest, late Old English gugest (Kentish, transmission error), early Middle English gunkest, early Middle English ȝeongest (south-western), Middle English ȝongest, Middle English ȝongeste, Middle English ȝongist, Middle English ȝongost, Middle English ȝongust, Middle English ȝoungest, Middle English ȝungest, Middle English ȝungeste, Middle English ȝunguest, Middle English yongeist, Middle English yonges (perhaps transmission error), Middle English yongeste, Middle English yonggys, Middle English yongist, Middle English yongyste, Middle English–1600s yongest, late Middle English yonest (transmission error), late Middle English– youngest, 1500s yoongest, 1600s youngist; Scottish pre-1700 ȝongast, pre-1700 ȝongest, pre-1700 ȝoungast, pre-1700 ȝoungest, pre-1700 ȝungaste, pre-1700 ȝungest, pre-1700 ȝungeste, pre-1700 yhongast, pre-1700 yhongest, pre-1700 yhungast, pre-1700 yhungest, pre-1700 younest, pre-1700 youngast, pre-1700 1700s– youngest. γ. early Middle English ȝengestt- (inflected form), early Middle English ȝengost. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymons: young adj., -est suffix. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian jungest , Old Dutch jungist (only in te jungist , adverb, Middle Dutch joncst , Dutch jongst ), Old Saxon jungist (Middle Low German jüngest ), Old High German jungisto (Middle High German jungest , jungst , German jüngst ), Old Icelandic yngstr , Old Swedish yngster (Swedish yngst ), Old Danish yngstæ , plural (Danish yngst ) < the Germanic base of young adj. + the Germanic base of -est suffix. Compare eldest adj. and later oldest adj.The α. forms apparently show i-mutation of the stem vowel, caused by the suffix (compare discussion at -est suffix); the initial /j/ (in Old English frequently spelt g- ) probably also influenced the vowel. Compare also the β. forms at young adj. and n.¹ and the discussion and references at that entry. The β. forms show levelling after the α. forms at young adj. and n.¹ With use with reference to time (see sense A. 3) compare the following related adverb uses in other West Germanic languages, e.g. Old Dutch te jungist in the end, finally (Middle Dutch ten joncsten, Dutch jongst), Old High German zi jungist, jungist in the end, finally (Middle High German ze jungeste in the end, finally, jungeste recently, German jüngst recently), Middle Low German te jüngest in the end, finally, jüngest, recently. A. adj. The superlative of young adj. Opposed to eldest adj., oldest adj. 1. That has lived the shortest time; most youthful; of the lowest age. Also: having the mental or physical characteristics of the most youthful person in a particular context. Cf. young adj. 1, 3.In quot. 1464 as postmodifier with the, used to distinguish the youngest of two people of the same name in a family; cf. younger adj. 1b. ΘΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [adjective] > younger than an age > youngest youngesteOE eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. v. 23 Ioseph, se þe ginst [perh. read gingst; L. minimus aetate] wæs hys gebroðra. OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xlii. 20 Beo eower an broðor her on cwearterne..& lædaþ eowerne geongestan broþor to me. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1728 Mi ȝengestte [c1300 Otho ȝeongeste] dohter. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7391 Quer es þin alder ȝingest son? 1464 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 526 Youyr sone and lowly seruant John Paston þe yongest. 1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon ii. xxi. sig. B.iii^v/2 The yongest leues chopped stamped and dystylled. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 310 The hands of death, which will dis-figure euen the yongest body. 1657 M. Lawrence Use & Pract. Faith 15 The youngest plants thrust their fibra's into the earth. a1730 E. Fenton tr. Secundus in G. Ogle et al. tr. Secundus Basia (1731) xviii. 49 Averse be ev'ry Arrow sped; From Love averse and tipt with Lead. Such! as the softest Bosom steels! Such! as the youngest Blood congeals! 1795 W. Winterbotham Hist. View Amer. U.S. II. 102 The homestead is generally given to the youngest son, who provides for his parents when age and infirmity incapacitates them for labour. 1818 J. Keats Endymion i. 5 While the early budders are just new, And run in mazes of the youngest hue About old forests. 1852 D. M. Mulock Agatha's Husband xii She and the youngest Miss Harper eyed one another uncomfortably. 1917 ‘O. Douglas’ Setons v. 77 Why, Father, you're the youngest person I have ever known. You're only about half the age of this weary worldling your daughter. 1959 J. Thompson Getaway xv. 83 There were nine of them, husband and wife and seven stair-step children—the youngest a toddling tot, the oldest a rawboned boy. 2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives xvii. 163 The three youngest kids were towheaded, bronzed and prepubescent. 2. That has had the least experience or practice; most junior. Also in early use: of lowest status, least significant. Cf. young adj. 5. ΘΠ the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > inexperienced > very little experienced youngesteOE leasta1586 eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xli. 301 Ure Aliesend..hine gemedomode to bionne betwuix ðæm læsðum & ðæm gingestum monnum [L. fieri inter omnia dignatus est paruus]. c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 113 Y, unworthiest and ȝongist and louȝest of prelatis. 1589 L. Ward in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 763 Then the generall receiued the opinions of vs his assistants, beginning with the yoongest in authority first. 1670 G. Harvey Little Venus Unmask'd (ed. 2) Introd. sig. A3 Those notions that were wrapt up in hard words, and obscure descriptions, I have here unchained, and set free, so that the youngest Novices in practice may easily apprehend them. 1729 Miseries of Goals 29 The youngest Prisoner is made Scavenger, and the second youngest is made Constable; and three Weeks after a Person is out of these Offices, he is chose Assistant for the Ward he belongs to. 1756 Bill for Better Ordering of Militia Forces 25 The officers of the militia shall, during such time, rank with the officers of his Majesty's forces of equal degree with them, as the youngest of their rank. 1797 Ld. Nelson 5 Apr. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 27 To go youngest into the Britannia. 1827 N.-Y. Lit. Gaz. 17 Feb. 177/2 Rudolph was the youngest in a double sense—youngest in years, and youngest in the service: for both reasons he was to throw last. 1905 Textile World Rec. Dec. 135/2 I am perhaps one of the youngest in experience, although not in age, in the manufacture of hosiery. 1997 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 4 Mar. d14 Our club is, I think, the fourth-youngest in age in the league... But we're the youngest in experience. 3. Most recently created, begun, introduced, etc.; that is at the earliest stage; latest. Cf. young adj. 6.In quot. OE: last. ΘΠ the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > newness or novelty > recency > [adjective] > most recent youngestOE last1411 latest1447 OE Beowulf (2008) 2817 Þæt wæs þam gomelan gingæste word breostgehygdum, ær he bæl cure. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxxxix. 12 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 234 Not yongest thought in me doth grow,..But yet vnutt'red thou dost know. 1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. D4 Since Letherne Adam, till this youngest howre. View more context for this quotation 1615 D. Digges Def. Trade 11 The last consistance of shipping propounded, was that of the East Indies: which though yongest, was found in shew and state to haue ouer-topped all the rest. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Younger Regiment or Officer, in Military Affairs, that Regiment is counted Youngest, which was last rais'd. 1789 W. Cullen Treat. Materia Medica I. ii. 382 Nature..has made it of a very alkalescent quality, from whence it is tender; and even in its youngest state, from the same quality, it is a heating food. 1832 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. i. iii. 201 If this theca [of a moss] be examined in its youngest state, it will be seen to form one of several small sessile ovate bodies. 1866 Art-Jrnl. 5 54/2 A school of Art destined to shed its radiance over the youngest country of the world's existence. 1950 Life 20 Mar. 22 (advt.) Kickerinos styled for cavorting and careering, for teaming comfort with the youngest ideas afoot. 1977 J. Monaco How to read Film v. 297 Much of this sort of after-the-fact cogitation was the result of film's own inferiority complex as the youngest of the arts. 2007 A. Theroux Laura Warholic xxii. 319 The Orion Nebula, the shiningest, youngest, closest, and most romantic nebula in the northern winter sky. 4. Designating the earliest part of (one's) life; earliest. Often with possessive adjective. Chiefly in youngest days, youngest years. Cf. young adj. 4, younger adj. 3. ΘΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > youth > [adjective] > belonging to early part of life younger1538 springing1556 youngest1570 junior1606 vernant1793 vernal1794 in bud1847 1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Spirituall Husbandry i. in tr. Popish Kingdome f. 67 Thus would I haue him liue with men that good and vertuous bee, In yongest yeares, when as you list you bow the tender tree [no direct parallel in L. original]. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxxviii. 64 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 130 Thou dost me fill, And hast from yongest yeares, With terrifying feares. 1673 R. Baxter Christian Directory ii. xii. 552 As a runner as soon as he beginneth his race is hasting to the end of it; so are your lives even in your youngest time. 1758 tr. Voltaire Maid of Orleans I. vii. 129 From her youngest years she could never be reproached for any other crime than that of indulging her amorous disposition. 1819 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 5 77/1 Often have I been a sharer in such scenes; and never, even in my youngest years, without having my heart deeply impressed by the circumstances. 1848 Punch 14 195/1 Any one's voice, in his youngest days, is a somewhat disagreeable compound of the creaking of a door and the whining of a cat. 1911 M. P. E. Groszmann Career of Child viii. 144 The youngest years of the child's school life, including at least the so-called first grade. 2003 Honolulu Advertiser 2 Oct. b1 From his youngest days as the son of a cellist,..music was his life. B. n. The youngest person (or animal, etc.) in a particular context; esp. (sometimes with possessive) the youngest child or sibling. ΘΠ the world > people > person > junior person > [noun] youngestOE youngerOE youngerOE juniora1530 young blood1557 puny1567 puisne1592 kid1690 minimus1848 baby1854 minor1864 OE Will of Æðelgifu (Sawyer 1497) in D. Whitelock Will of Æthelgifu (1968) 13 Freoge mon Man hire goldsmið, & his eldestan sunu, & þone ginstan. OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xliv. 12 He sohte fram þam yldestan oþ þone gynstan, oþ he funde þone læfel on Beniamines sacce. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3467 Þe ȝungeste of þan breðeren. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 3133 The yongest of hem hadde of age Fourtiene yer. c1500 Melusine (1895) 125 Two yong & fayre damoyseaulx brethren,..of whiche theldest is called Vryan, & that youngest Guyon. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 391 When suche questions be asked, the yongest both of the spiritualtie and temporaltie say their opinions first. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. i. 137 Till by helping Baptista[']s eldest daughter to a husband, wee set his yongest free for a husband. View more context for this quotation 1660 T. Fuller Mixt Contempl. ii. xxiii. 36 I alwaies made the most of the youngest. 1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman June xi. 117 Let the eldest have the first Head of Milk, the middlemost next, and the youngest afterwards get what they can. 1780 E. Griffith Times ii. 18 He apprenticed my eldest boy, last week, and pays for the schooling of the two youngest. 1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 6 They are a fine family from the eldest to the youngest. 1897 E. Ingersoll Wild Neighbors viii. 233 Not the full-grown fowls are his victims, but the youngest, most tender. 1911 E. J. Muddle's Picture Plays 10 The public..demands good, clean, wholesome pictures, to which it can take every member of its household, from the youngest upwards. 1972 L. A. Murray Poems against Economics 6 Prosperous, well-mannered children Gentle with cows. Even the youngest's a dairyman. 2011 New Yorker 6 June 63/1 When Vinnie arrived home, she found her whole family waiting..all but her youngest, Samuel, who hid under a blanket. Compounds youngest-born adj. and n. (a) adj. last-born, youngest; (b) n. a youngest child or sibling; cf. eldest-born n. at eldest adj. Compounds; also in extended use. ΘΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > next-born, last-born, etc. middlec1275 youngest-borna1325 next-born?a1400 last-born1609 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2160 His x sunes iacob for-ðan Sente in-to egipt... He bilef at hom ðe was gungest boren. 1596 G. Markham Poem of Poems ii. sig. B8^v Now with their [sc. the vines'] smallest grapes, times yongest borne Clustred in bunches like a countlesse broode. 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 371 France, that dowerles Tooke our yongest borne . View more context for this quotation 1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice III. viii. iii. 35 Our youngest-born affection is our darling and our idol. 1996 Times (Nexis) 26 Aug. The American philosopher and founding father Benjamin Franklin..was a seventh-generation youngest-born. 2005 A. Daniels Love Uncovered xii. 227 Identical brandy-colored eyes brimmed with tenderness as she spoke to her youngest-born child. youngest hand n. Cards (now rare) the last player, or the last except the dealer, to play or bid at the start of a game (opposed to eldest hand n. at eldest adj. 5); cf. younger hand n. at younger adj. and n. Compounds. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > card-player > first, last, etc., player eldest hand1599 younger hand1669 youngest hand1674 leader1677 fourth1803 1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester xv. 129 In the lifting for dealing the least deals, which is a great disadvantage; for that makes the Dealer youngest hand. 1720 R. Seymour Compl. Gamester (1734) 74 If the youngest Hand names his Trump without asking Leave. 1797 Sporting Mag. Nov. 81/1 If the youngest hand can't win that trick, and although he has a deuce left in his hand for the last card, he is not safe, or sure of tieing. 1821 G. Long Hoyle's Games Improved 162 The youngest hand..may call a sight... If he calls a sight the cards must be shown in rotation, the player who calls showing last, and the best hand shown wins the pool. 1913 E. V. Shepard Sci. Auction Bridge 27 The remaining player, who sits at declarer's right, is known as ‘pone’, ‘youngest hand’, or ‘younger’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.n.eOE
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