"child" meaning in Middle English

See child in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /t͡ʃiːld/
Etymology: Inherited from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic *kelþaz. Etymology templates: {{yesno||i|I}} I, {{glossary|Inherited}} Inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|ċild|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English ċild, {{inh+|enm|ang|ċild}} Inherited from Old English ċild, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*kelþaz}} Proto-Germanic *kelþaz Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=|var=}} child, {{enm-noun|pl=children|pl2=childre|pl3=childres|pl3_qual=rare|pl4=child|pl4_qual=early}} child (plural children or childre or (rare) childres or (early) child) Forms: children [plural], childre [plural], childres [plural, rare], child [error-unknown-tag, plural], no-table-tags [table-tags], child [error-unrecognized-form, singular], childre [error-unrecognized-form, plural], children [error-unrecognized-form, plural], childes [genitive, singular], childres [genitive, plural], childrene [genitive, plural], childe [dative, singular], - [dative, plural], chijld [alternative], chijlde [alternative], childe [alternative], chyld [alternative], chylde [alternative], cild [alternative, Early-Middle-English], chilt [alternative, Early-Middle-English], chield [alternative, Late-Middle-English], chiȝld [alternative, Late-Middle-English], chyeld [alternative, Late-Middle-English], chyild [alternative, Late-Middle-English], chyilde [alternative, Late-Middle-English], chylld [alternative, Late-Middle-English], chulde [alternative], chil [alternative], cheld [alternative], chelde [alternative]
  1. A child (person who has not reached adulthood):
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-3GA31YF- Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
  2. A child (person who has not reached adulthood):
    A baby, infant, toddler; a person in infancy.
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-g-mMBU6Q Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
  3. A child (person who has not reached adulthood):
    (Christianity) The Christ child; Jesus as a child.
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-zR10UM85 Categories (other): Christianity, Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Topics: Christianity
  4. A young male, especially a hireling or squire. Synonyms: garsoun
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-aXXAFo8t Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
  5. The young of animals or plants.
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-fJ~Mc2jf Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
  6. An offspring, one of one's progeny.
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-V6mPUXjR Categories (other): Babies, Children, Nobility, People Disambiguation of Babies: 5 21 5 6 7 42 3 5 7 Disambiguation of Children: 9 9 18 3 7 37 9 6 3 Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Disambiguation of People: 15 15 15 0 0 31 24 0 0
  7. A childish or stupid individual.
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-smIvekQq Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
  8. (figurative) A follower of a religion (usually with the religion in the genitive preposing it) Tags: figuratively
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-DdYYthX3 Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
  9. (rare) A result or product. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-child-enm-noun-BXrc5YoP Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Categories (other): Family Disambiguation of Family: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Related terms: child bed, childberyng, childen, Childermasse day, childhode, childisch, childles, childly, childwyte, childynge, knave child, mayde child, mayden child, stepchild

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "categories": [
    {
      "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "kind": "other",
      "langcode": "enm",
      "name": "Family",
      "orig": "enm:Family",
      "parents": [],
      "source": "w+disamb"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "child"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "child"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "chyld"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "cheld"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "cheild"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ċild",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English ċild",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ċild"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English ċild",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*kelþaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *kelþaz",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic *kelþaz.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "children",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childre",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childres",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "child",
      "tags": [
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "child",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "error-unrecognized-form",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childre",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "error-unrecognized-form",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "children",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "error-unrecognized-form",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childes",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childres",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childrene",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childe",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chijld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chijlde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chylde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cild",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chilt",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chield",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chiȝld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyeld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyild",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyilde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chylld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chulde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chil",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cheld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chelde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": "",
        "var": ""
      },
      "expansion": "child",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "pl": "children",
        "pl2": "childre",
        "pl3": "childres",
        "pl3_qual": "rare",
        "pl4": "child",
        "pl4_qual": "early"
      },
      "expansion": "child (plural children or childre or (rare) childres or (early) child)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "child bed"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childberyng"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childen"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Childermasse day"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childhode"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childisch"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childles"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childly"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childwyte"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "childynge"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "knave child"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "mayde child"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "mayden child"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "stepchild"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              82,
              87
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              103,
              108
            ]
          ],
          "english": "You must see within yourself Truth inside your heart / in a bond of benevolence; like you would [as] a child, / accept him and say nothing against your \"father\"'s wishes.",
          "ref": "c. 1378-9, [William Langland], “Paſſus quıntus de vıſıone vt supͣ”, in [Piers Plowman, A Treatise on Sin] (W, B-text), London, published c. 1400, →OCLC, folio 34, recto; republished as Thorlac Turville-Petre, Hoyt N. Duggan, editors, Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.15.17 (The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive; 2), SEENET, 2014, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Thow shalt see in þı selue. truþe in þyn herte / In a cheyne of charite. as þow a chıld were / To suffren hym and segge noȝt. ayein þi sıres wılle",
          "translation": "You must see within yourself Truth inside your heart / in a bond of benevolence; like you would [as] a child, / accept him and say nothing against your \"father\"'s wishes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              20,
              25
            ],
            [
              45,
              50
            ],
            [
              76,
              81
            ],
            [
              103,
              108
            ],
            [
              181,
              186
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              19,
              24
            ],
            [
              46,
              51
            ],
            [
              76,
              81
            ],
            [
              104,
              109
            ],
            [
              183,
              188
            ]
          ],
          "english": "When I was a small child, I talked as a small child, I perceived as a small child, I thought as a small child; but when I became an adult, I eschewed the things pertaining to a small child.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Coꝛinthis ·i· 13:11, folio 67, recto, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "Whāne I was a litıl child⹎ I ſpak as a lıtıl child· I vndurſtood as a litil child· I þouȝte as a litil child / but whāne I was maad a man⹎ I avoıdıde þo þingis þat weren of a lıtil chıld",
          "translation": "When I was a small child, I talked as a small child, I perceived as a small child, I thought as a small child; but when I became an adult, I eschewed the things pertaining to a small child.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood)"
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-3GA31YF-",
      "links": [
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ],
        [
          "person",
          "person#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not#English"
        ],
        [
          "reach",
          "reach#English"
        ],
        [
          "adulthood",
          "adulthood#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):",
        "A baby, infant, toddler; a person in infancy."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-g-mMBU6Q",
      "links": [
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ],
        [
          "person",
          "person#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not#English"
        ],
        [
          "reach",
          "reach#English"
        ],
        [
          "adulthood",
          "adulthood#English"
        ],
        [
          "baby",
          "baby"
        ],
        [
          "infant",
          "infant"
        ],
        [
          "toddler",
          "toddler"
        ],
        [
          "infancy",
          "infancy"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Christianity",
          "orig": "enm:Christianity",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):",
        "The Christ child; Jesus as a child."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-zR10UM85",
      "links": [
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ],
        [
          "person",
          "person#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not#English"
        ],
        [
          "reach",
          "reach#English"
        ],
        [
          "adulthood",
          "adulthood#English"
        ],
        [
          "Christianity",
          "Christianity"
        ],
        [
          "Christ child",
          "Christ child"
        ],
        [
          "Jesus",
          "Jesus"
        ],
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):",
        "(Christianity) The Christ child; Jesus as a child."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "Christianity"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A young male, especially a hireling or squire."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-aXXAFo8t",
      "links": [
        [
          "male",
          "male"
        ],
        [
          "hireling",
          "hireling"
        ],
        [
          "squire",
          "squire"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "garsoun"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The young of animals or plants."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-fJ~Mc2jf",
      "links": [
        [
          "animals",
          "animals"
        ],
        [
          "plants",
          "plants"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "5 21 5 6 7 42 3 5 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Babies",
          "orig": "enm:Babies",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 9 18 3 7 37 9 6 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Children",
          "orig": "enm:Children",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "15 15 15 0 0 31 24 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "enm:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An offspring, one of one's progeny."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-V6mPUXjR",
      "links": [
        [
          "offspring",
          "offspring"
        ],
        [
          "progeny",
          "progeny"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A childish or stupid individual."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-smIvekQq",
      "links": [
        [
          "childish",
          "childish"
        ],
        [
          "stupid",
          "stupid"
        ],
        [
          "individual",
          "individual"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A follower of a religion (usually with the religion in the genitive preposing it)"
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-DdYYthX3",
      "links": [
        [
          "follower",
          "follower"
        ],
        [
          "religion",
          "religion"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) A follower of a religion (usually with the religion in the genitive preposing it)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A result or product."
      ],
      "id": "en-child-enm-noun-BXrc5YoP",
      "links": [
        [
          "result",
          "result"
        ],
        [
          "product",
          "product"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) A result or product."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/t͡ʃiːld/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "child"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English z-stem nouns",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Babies",
    "enm:Children",
    "enm:Family",
    "enm:Nobility",
    "enm:People"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "child"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "child"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "chyld"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "cheld"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "child"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "chield"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "cheild"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ċild",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English ċild",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ċild"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English ċild",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*kelþaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *kelþaz",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic *kelþaz.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "children",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childre",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childres",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "child",
      "tags": [
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "child",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "error-unrecognized-form",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childre",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "error-unrecognized-form",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "children",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "error-unrecognized-form",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childes",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childres",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childrene",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childe",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chijld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chijlde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "childe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chylde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cild",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chilt",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chield",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chiȝld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyeld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyild",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chyilde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chylld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chulde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chil",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cheld",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "chelde",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": "",
        "var": ""
      },
      "expansion": "child",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "pl": "children",
        "pl2": "childre",
        "pl3": "childres",
        "pl3_qual": "rare",
        "pl4": "child",
        "pl4_qual": "early"
      },
      "expansion": "child (plural children or childre or (rare) childres or (early) child)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "child bed"
    },
    {
      "word": "childberyng"
    },
    {
      "word": "childen"
    },
    {
      "word": "Childermasse day"
    },
    {
      "word": "childhode"
    },
    {
      "word": "childisch"
    },
    {
      "word": "childles"
    },
    {
      "word": "childly"
    },
    {
      "word": "childwyte"
    },
    {
      "word": "childynge"
    },
    {
      "word": "knave child"
    },
    {
      "word": "mayde child"
    },
    {
      "word": "mayden child"
    },
    {
      "word": "stepchild"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              82,
              87
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              103,
              108
            ]
          ],
          "english": "You must see within yourself Truth inside your heart / in a bond of benevolence; like you would [as] a child, / accept him and say nothing against your \"father\"'s wishes.",
          "ref": "c. 1378-9, [William Langland], “Paſſus quıntus de vıſıone vt supͣ”, in [Piers Plowman, A Treatise on Sin] (W, B-text), London, published c. 1400, →OCLC, folio 34, recto; republished as Thorlac Turville-Petre, Hoyt N. Duggan, editors, Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.15.17 (The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive; 2), SEENET, 2014, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Thow shalt see in þı selue. truþe in þyn herte / In a cheyne of charite. as þow a chıld were / To suffren hym and segge noȝt. ayein þi sıres wılle",
          "translation": "You must see within yourself Truth inside your heart / in a bond of benevolence; like you would [as] a child, / accept him and say nothing against your \"father\"'s wishes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              20,
              25
            ],
            [
              45,
              50
            ],
            [
              76,
              81
            ],
            [
              103,
              108
            ],
            [
              181,
              186
            ]
          ],
          "bold_translation_offsets": [
            [
              19,
              24
            ],
            [
              46,
              51
            ],
            [
              76,
              81
            ],
            [
              104,
              109
            ],
            [
              183,
              188
            ]
          ],
          "english": "When I was a small child, I talked as a small child, I perceived as a small child, I thought as a small child; but when I became an adult, I eschewed the things pertaining to a small child.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Coꝛinthis ·i· 13:11, folio 67, recto, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "Whāne I was a litıl child⹎ I ſpak as a lıtıl child· I vndurſtood as a litil child· I þouȝte as a litil child / but whāne I was maad a man⹎ I avoıdıde þo þingis þat weren of a lıtil chıld",
          "translation": "When I was a small child, I talked as a small child, I perceived as a small child, I thought as a small child; but when I became an adult, I eschewed the things pertaining to a small child.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ],
        [
          "person",
          "person#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not#English"
        ],
        [
          "reach",
          "reach#English"
        ],
        [
          "adulthood",
          "adulthood#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):",
        "A baby, infant, toddler; a person in infancy."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ],
        [
          "person",
          "person#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not#English"
        ],
        [
          "reach",
          "reach#English"
        ],
        [
          "adulthood",
          "adulthood#English"
        ],
        [
          "baby",
          "baby"
        ],
        [
          "infant",
          "infant"
        ],
        [
          "toddler",
          "toddler"
        ],
        [
          "infancy",
          "infancy"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "enm:Christianity"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):",
        "The Christ child; Jesus as a child."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ],
        [
          "person",
          "person#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not#English"
        ],
        [
          "reach",
          "reach#English"
        ],
        [
          "adulthood",
          "adulthood#English"
        ],
        [
          "Christianity",
          "Christianity"
        ],
        [
          "Christ child",
          "Christ child"
        ],
        [
          "Jesus",
          "Jesus"
        ],
        [
          "child",
          "child#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "A child (person who has not reached adulthood):",
        "(Christianity) The Christ child; Jesus as a child."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "Christianity"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A young male, especially a hireling or squire."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "male",
          "male"
        ],
        [
          "hireling",
          "hireling"
        ],
        [
          "squire",
          "squire"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "garsoun"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The young of animals or plants."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "animals",
          "animals"
        ],
        [
          "plants",
          "plants"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "An offspring, one of one's progeny."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "offspring",
          "offspring"
        ],
        [
          "progeny",
          "progeny"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A childish or stupid individual."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "childish",
          "childish"
        ],
        [
          "stupid",
          "stupid"
        ],
        [
          "individual",
          "individual"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A follower of a religion (usually with the religion in the genitive preposing it)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "follower",
          "follower"
        ],
        [
          "religion",
          "religion"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) A follower of a religion (usually with the religion in the genitive preposing it)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A result or product."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "result",
          "result"
        ],
        [
          "product",
          "product"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) A result or product."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/t͡ʃiːld/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "child"
}

Download raw JSONL data for child meaning in Middle English (9.0kB)

{
  "called_from": "page/1498/20230118",
  "msg": "''A child (person who has not re'[...]' gloss has examples we want to keep, but there are subglosses.",
  "path": [
    "child"
  ],
  "section": "Middle English",
  "subsection": "noun",
  "title": "child",
  "trace": ""
}

{
  "called_from": "inflection/735",
  "msg": "inflection table: unrecognized header: '(nominative/accusative)'",
  "path": [
    "child"
  ],
  "section": "Middle English",
  "subsection": "noun",
  "title": "child",
  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-20 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (d6fca27 and 65e1673). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.