Pubescent
/ˈpjuːbɛsənt/noun
Relating to or in the stage of puberty; beginning to develop adult sexual characteristics.
Did you know?Pubescent comes from Latin pubescere, meaning “to grow hairy,” which is tied to pubes, “hair around the genitals” — a brutally physical reminder that ancient words named puberty by visible bodily change.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peu-
“to swell, grow, or become full”
Latin
Latin
pubes
“adult body hair; the signs of maturity”
Latin
Latin
pubescere
“to begin to grow hair; to reach puberty”
Late Latin
Latin
pubescentem
“growing hairy; approaching sexual maturity”
14th–15th Century
English
pubescent
“growing hair; later, maturing or adolescent”
Modern English
English
pubescent
“in or relating to puberty”