Impubescent
/ˌɪm.pjuːˈbɛs.ənt/noun
Not yet sexually mature; immature or not having developed adult secondary sexual characteristics.
Did you know?Impubescent comes from Latin pubescent-, from pubescere, meaning “to begin to grow hair” — a reminder that in ancient Latin, adulthood was literally read on the body.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*beu-
“To grow, swell, or become strong”
Latin
Latin
pubes
“A grown person; an adult, especially one of marriageable age”
Latin
Latin
pubescere
“To begin to grow hair; to reach sexual maturity”
Late Latin
Latin
impubescent-
“Not yet mature; not yet adult”
16th–17th Century
English
impubescent
“Not yet sexually mature or adult”
Modern English
English
impubescent
“Not yet sexually mature; immature”