Child (?), n.; pl. Children (#). [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth. kil�xed;ei womb, in-kil�xed;o with child.]
1.
A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.
2.
A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.
3.
One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.
4.
A noble youth. See Childe.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
5.
A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc.
When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1. Cor. xii. 11.
6.
A female infant.
[Obs.]
A boy or a child, I wonder?
Shak.
To be with child, to be pregnant. -- Child's play, light work; a trifling contest.
© Webster 1913.
Child, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Childed; p. pr. & vb. n. Childing.]
To give birth; to produce young.
This queen Genissa childing died.
Warner.
It chanced within two days they childed both.
Latimer.
© Webster 1913.