ju´ve|nile|ly

ju|ve|nile «JOO vuh nuhl, -nyl», adjective, noun.

–adj.

1. young; youthful: »

He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighborhood (Jane Austen).

SYNONYM(S): immature, undeveloped. See syn. under young. (Cf. ↑young)

2. of or for boys and girls: »

juvenile books. The picture, done in CinemaScope, i obviously aimed at a juvenile audience (New Yorker).

3. having never existed on the surface of the earth or in the atmosphere; coming fresh from the earth's interior: »

juvenile nitrogen, juvenile water.

–n.

1. a young person; youth: »

Tom Sawyer the Pirate looked around upon the envying juveniles about him (Mark Twain). Most states in the United States consider anyone under 18 years of age a juvenile. A few states and most of the provinces of Canada consider anyone under 16 a juvenile (Stanton Wheeler).

2. a book for boys and girls: »

There are many juveniles on the shelves of the children's library.

3. an act or actress who plays youthful parts.

4. a young bird that is able to fly but has not completely lost its down.

╂[< Latin juvenīlis < juvenis young (person)]

–ju´ve|nile|ly, adverb.

–ju´ve|nile|ness, noun.