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Where does the word "infant" come from? It comes from Latin infans, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "infant" come from? It comes from Latin infans, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Infant’s story begins in Latin: infans meant “unable to speak.” 'in-', not, plus 'fans', speaking. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as enfant. The root of 'infantry', young foot soldiers. It reached English by 1300s as infant. Legally a minor until adulthood. Today, infant means a very young child.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient infans "unable to speak", 'in-', not, plus 'fans', speaking.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval enfant "child", the root of 'infantry', young foot soldiers.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s infant "child", legally a minor until adulthood.