a. [f. YOUTH + -FUL.]
1. Having or characterized by youth; that is still young.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 14. The youthfull knight could not for ought be staide.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 52. In vnlawfull loue, A sinne preuailing much in youthfull men.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 77. This Prince being youthfull, cast behinde him all care of the Empire.
1703. Rowe, Fair Penit., III. 32. Is she not more than Painting can express, Or youthful Poets fancy, when they love?
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, xxiii. II. 37. A youthful princess, in the very sweetness and bloom of her years.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 129. Here we have … an unmistakable attack made by the youthful Socrates.
2. transf. Of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for, youth or the young: juvenile.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, II. X iij. Alonso Carillo … hauynge committed certein youthfull partes that were of no great importance, was … caried to prison.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 111. Idlenesse is … ye sole maintenaunce of youthful [later edd. youthly] affection.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 160. The leane and slipper’d Pantaloone,… His youthfull hose well sau’d, a world too wide, For his shrunke shanke.
1632. Milton, L’Allegro, 26. Jest and youthful Jollity.
1723. C. Walker, Mem. Sally Salisb., 10. Dress and Dancing were the sole Youthful Delights of our Sally.
1799. Han. More, Fem. Educ. (ed. 4), I. 173. That profusion of little … sentimental books with which the youthful library overflows.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxv. Mrs. Skewton … appropriately attired for that purpose in a very youthful costume.
1901. W. W. Jacobs, Light Freights, 228. An ancient eye watched with almost youthful impatience the slow warming of a mug of beer on the hob.
3. fig. That is in its early stage, early, new; also, having the freshness or vigor of youth.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., III. i. 18. O earth! I will befriend thee more with raine That shall distill from these two ancient ruines, Then youthfull Aprill shall with all his showres In summers drought.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. vii. 34. The larger stature … of men in those youthfull times and age of the world.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., i. 24. Perfect Felicity, such as after millions of millions of Ages is still youthfull and flourishing.
1777. Potter, Æschylus, Agamemnon, 256. The youthfull bloom of rosy love.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 147. There may be a connexion between an extraordinary profusion of monocotyledonous plants and a youthful condition of the world.
1877. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Oct., 11/1. A youthful and astringent Tinta, an aromatic Malmsey of fabulous value.
Hence Youthfullity (nonce-wd.), youthfulness; pl. youthful acts or follies.
1763. H. Walpole, Lett. to G. Montagu, 15 Aug. You see my impetuosity does not abate much: no, nor my youthfullity. Ibid. (1764), Lett. to C. Churchill, 27 March. You do not suspect me, I hope, of any youthfullities.
