Adult or mature age, esp. (in opposition to nonage) the age of 21 years. Cf. AGE sb. 3.
1622. Bacon, Holy War (1629), 129. That after full Age the Sonnes should Expulse their Fathers and Mothers out of their Possessions.
1675. Brooks, Paradice Opened, 52. God had a respect to the non-age and full-age of his people.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 428. Those whom the law enables, in other instances, to dispose of their property, and who are of full age and sufficient understanding, should have power to suffer a common recovery.
1885. Gladstone, in Chr. World, 15 Jan., 37/1. The anniversary … which will to-morrow bring your Royal Highness to full age.
attrib. a. 1659. Cleveland, Poor Cavalier, 11. E’er ripe Rebellion had a full-age Power.
Hence † Full-aged ppl. a., being of full or mature age. Of a horse: Exceeding the age of 6 years (now simply, aged). Obs.
1631. Quarles, Div. Poems, Samson, xiii. 31.
| Appear’d a full ag’d Lyon, who had sought | |
| (But could not find) his long-desired prey. |
1682. Lond. Gaz., No. 1737/4. A chesnut sorrel Nag, with a bob Tail, full aged.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 514, ¶ 4. There stood by her a man full-aged, and of great gravity.
1724. Lond. Gaz., No. 6310/3. A sorrel Horse … full aged.
