Now rare or Obs. [f. YOUTH + -Y1. ‘A bad word’ (J.).] Having or affecting the character of youth: usually connoting a youthful appearance or behavior inconsistent with the person’s years.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 296, ¶ 5. Affecting a youthier Turn than is consistent with my Time of Day.
1819. Scott, Lett. to J. Richardson, 18 Jan., in Lockhart. A withered beauty who persists in looking youthy.
1841. Caroline Fox, Mem. Old Friends (1882), I. 231. When at college, Sterling had venerated and defended Shelley as a moralist as well as a poet, ‘being rather youthy.’
Hence Youthily adv., with the appearance of youth; Youthiness, youthfulness, juvenility.
1821. Blackw. Mag., VIII. 517. Bringing back with me … a sort of youthiness that lasted sometimes more than a fortnight.
1839. Galt, Demon of Dest., 6. His bright eyes shone youthily.
