- ad´o|les´cent|ly
- ad|o|les|cent «AD uh LEHS uhnt», noun, adjective.–n.a person growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood, especially, in ordinary use, from about 12 to about 20 years of age: »
Nine adolescents, six juveniles and four adults were taken into court yesterday... Those between 16 and 18 are adolescents and those under 16 are juveniles (New York Times).
SYNONYM(S): teen-ager, youth.–adj.1. growing up from childhood to adulthood; youthful: »He is still in the adolescent stage of development.
SYNONYM(S): pubescent.2. of adolescents; during adolescence; characteristic of adolescents: »adolescent self-consciousness. Adolescent friendships often do not last.
SYNONYM(S): juvenile.╂[< Latin adolēscēns, -entis, present participle of adolēscere grow up < ad- to + alēscere grow up. See related etym. under adult. (Cf. ↑adult)]–ad´o|les´cent|ly, adverb.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.