Youth (&umac;th), n.; pl. Youths (&umac;ths; 264) or collectively Youth. [OE. youthe, youhþe, [yogh]uhe[eth]e, [yogh]uwe[eth]e, [yogh]eo[yogh]e[eth]e, AS. geogu[eth], geogo[eth]; akin to OS. jug[eth], D. jeugd, OHG. jugund, G. jugend, Goth. junda. 281. See Young.]
1.
The quality or state of being young; youthfulness; juvenility.
"In my flower of
youth."
Milton.
Such as in his face
Youth smiled celestial.
Milton.
2.
The part of life that succeeds to childhood; the period of existence preceding maturity or age; the whole early part of life, from childhood, or, sometimes, from infancy, to manhood.
He wondered that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home.
Shak.
Those who pass their youth in vice are justly condemned to spend their age in folly.
Rambler.
3.
A young person; especially, a young man.
Seven youths from Athens yearly sent.
Dryden.
4.
Young persons, collectively.
It is fit to read the best authors to youth first.
B. Jonson.
© Webster 1913.