Infant
/ˈɪn.fənt/noun
A very young child, typically one under the age of one.
Did you know?In ancient times, infants were often believed to be closer to the spirit world, as their inability to speak was thought to connect them to divine mysteries.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰu-
“to be, to grow”
Latin
Latin
infans
“not speaking, mute, unable to speak”
Old French
Old French
enfant
“child, infant”
Middle English
Middle English
infaunt
“young child, infant”
Modern English
English
infant
“a very young child or baby”