1. The quality or state of being young; youthfulness; juvenility. "In my flower of youth." Milton. Such as in his face Youth smiled celestial. Milton.
2. The part of life that succeeds to childhood; the period of existence preceding maturity or age; the whole early part of life, from childhood, or, sometimes, from infancy, to manhood. He wondered that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home. Shak. Those who pass their youth in vice are justly condemned to spend their age in folly. Rambler.
3. A young person; especially, a young man. Seven youths from Athens yearly sent. Dryden.
4. Young persons, collectively. It is fit to read the best authors to youth first. B. Jonson.
YOUTHFUL
Youth"ful, a.
1. Not yet mature or aged; young. "Two youthful knights." Dryden.
Defn: Also used figuratively. "The youthful season of the year."
Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the early part of life; suitable to early life; as, youthful days; youthful sports. "Warm, youthful blood." Shak. "Youthful thoughts." Milton.
3. Fresh; vigorous, as in youth. After millions of millions of ages . . . still youthful and flourishing. Bentley.
Syn. — Puerile; juvenile. — Youthful, Puerile, Juvenile. Puerile is always used in a bad sense, or at least in the sense of what is suitable to a boy only; as, puerile objections, puerile amusements, etc. Juvenile is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when speaking of youth in contrast with manhood; as, juvenile tricks; a juvenile performance. Youthful is commonly employed in a good sense; as, youthful aspirations; or at least by way of extenuating; as, youthful indiscretions. "Some men, imagining themselves possessed with a divine fury, often fall into toys and trifles, which are only puerilities." Dryden. "Raw, juvenile writers imagine that, by pouring forth figures often, they render their compositions warm and animated." Blair. — Youth"ful*ly, adv. — Youth"ful*ness, n.