Part 206

It chanced within two days they childed both. Latimer.

Child"bear`ing (?), n. The act of producing or bringing forth children; parturition. Milton. Addison.

Child"bed (?), n. The state of a woman bringing forth a child, or being in labor; parturition.

Child"birth (?), n. The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labor. Jer. Taylor.

Child"crow`ing (?), n. (Med.) The crowing noise made by children affected with spasm of the laryngeal muscles; false croup.

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.

Child"ed (?), a. Furnished with a child. [Obs.]

Chil"dermas day` (?). [AS. cildamŠsse- dŠg; cild child +dŠg 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.

Child"hood (chīld"h&oocr;d), n. [AS. cildhād; cild child + -hād. 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.

Child"ing (?), a. [See Child, v. i.] Bearing Children; (Fig.) productive; fruitful. [R.] Shak.

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.

&fist; Childish, as applied to persons who are grown up, is in a disparaging sense; as, a childish temper.

Child"ish*ly, adv. In the manner of a child; in a trifling way; in a weak or foolish manner.

Child"ish*ness, n. The state or quality of being childish; simplicity; harmlessness; weakness of intellect.

Child"less*ness, n. The state of being childless.

Child"like (?), a. Resembling a child, or that which belongs to children; becoming a child; meek; submissive; dutiful. "Childlike obedience." Hooker.

&fist; Childlike, as applied to persons grown up, is commonly in a good sense; as, childlike grace or simplicity; childlike modesty.

Child"ly, a. Having the character of a child; belonging, or appropriate, to a child. Gower.

Child"ly, adv. Like a child. Mrs. Browning.

Child"ness, n. The manner characteristic of a child. [Obs.] "Varying childness." Shak.