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The earliest age at which persons are capable of begetting or bearing children, usually considered, in temperate climates, to be about fourteen years in males and twelve in females.

The condition of not having reached puberty, or the age of ability to reproduce one's species; want of age at which the marriage contract can be legally entered into.

f growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood; youth, or the period of life between puberty and maturity, generally considered to be, in the male sex, from fourteen to twenty-one. Sometimes used with reference to the lower animals.

Without a beard. Hence: Not having arrived at puberty or manhood; youthful.

A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son. My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. Sir W. Scott.

degenerates into an unmusical sound instead. Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty.

ng a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty. I have walked before you from my childhood. 1. Sam. xii. 2.

The tone of voice when changed at puberty. Though now our voices Have got the mannish crack. Shak.

A female child, from birth to the age of puberty; a young maiden.

Not having arrived at puberty; immature. In impuberal animals the cerebellum is, in proportion to the brain proper, greatly less than in adults. Sir W. Hamilton.

Of or pertaining to puberty.

The hair which appears upon the lower part of the hypogastric region at the age of puberty.

The quality or state of being pubescent, or of having arrived at puberty. Sir T. Browne.

Arrived at puberty. That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. Sir T. Browne.

A boy or a girl under the age of puberty, that is, under fourteen if a male, and under twelve if a female.

The period before puberty, or from birth to fourteen in males, and twelve in females.