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child

 
American Heritage Dictionary:

child

Home > Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary
(chīld) pronunciation
n., pl., chil·dren (chĭl'drən).
    1. A person between birth and puberty.
    2. A person who has not attained maturity or the age of legal majority.
    1. An unborn infant; a fetus.
    2. An infant; a baby.
  3. One who is childish or immature.
  4. A son or daughter; an offspring.
  5. A member of a tribe; descendant: children of Abraham.
    1. An individual regarded as strongly affected by another or by a specified time, place, or circumstance: a child of nature; a child of the Sixties.
    2. A product or result of something specified: "Times Square is a child of the 20th century" (Richard F. Shepard).
idiom:

with child

  1. Pregnant.

[Middle English, from Old English cild.]

childless child'less adj.
childlessness child'less·ness n.

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TechEncyclopedia:

child

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(1) In database management, the data that is dependent on its parent. See parent-child.

(2) A component that is subordinate to a higher-level component. See child menu, child program and child window.

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Roget's Thesaurus:

child

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noun

  1. A young person between birth and puberty: bud, innocent, juvenile, moppet, tot, youngster. Informal kid. Scots bairn. See kin, youth/age/maturity.
  2. One who is not yet legally of age: juvenile. Law infant, minor. See law, youth/age/maturity.
  3. A guileless, unsophisticated person: babe, ingénue, innocent, naive. Idioms: babe in the woods. See knowledge/ignorance.
  4. One descended directly from the same parents or ancestors: descendant, offspring, progeny, scion. See kin.

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms:

child

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Idioms beginning with child:
child's play

In addition to the idiom beginning with child, also see second childhood.

Antonyms by Answers.com:

child

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n

Definition: very young person
Antonyms: adult

Encyclopedia of Judaism:

Children

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Judaism has always placed a high value on bearing and rearing children. The verse, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28), was considered to be the first commandment in the Bible. The Talmud asserts that one who is childless may be considered dead (Ned. 64b) and compares the intentional avoidance of having children to murder (Yev. 63b). The commandment to be fruitful, however, devolves upon men only and is regarded as fulfilled once two boys or a boy and girl have been born. A man may marry a woman incapable of bearing children only if he has already fulfilled his obligation or if he has another wife who is presumed fertile (Maim. Yad, Ishut 15:7). A couple that remains childless after ten years of marriage is expected to divorce; if infertility is attributable to the woman she forfeits the basic compensation (but not any additional compensation promised) guaranteed in her marriage contract (Ketubbah). If infertility is attributable to the husband, he must pay all benefits enumerated in the marriage contract (ibid. 15:8). In modern times, divorce of this kind is extremely rare. One interpretation equates the biblical punishment of Karet, being "cut off," with Barrenness.

The Bible states that children will suffer for their parents' evil doings "unto the third and fourth generation" (Ex.20:5). However, this was modified by the rabbis (Ber. 7a) to refer only to offspring who continue to follow their parents' sins. Children benefit from their parents' righteousness "to the thousandth generation" (Ex. 20:5-6).

The origin of the celebration of Shalom Zakhar, held on the Friday night following the birth of a son, is found in the Talmud. Names are given to male children at their Circumcision; girls when the father is called to the Reading of the Law in the synagogue within a week of the birth. In recent decades, Jews in various Western communities originated the custom of celebrating the birth of a daughter with a ceremony known as Simḥat Bat.

The child's initiation to Jewish life begins from an early age with the recitation of the Shema and blessings and the study of Hebrew and the Pentateuch. The Mishnah states that boys are to study the Bible from the age of five, Mishnah at ten, to perform Mitsvot at the age of 13, and to study Talmud at 15 (Avot 5:21); see Education. Today, the study of Mishnah and Talmud may begin at younger ages. In previous eras, girls were not given formal schooling, but rather learned their Jewish and domestic responsibilities from their mothers in the home. Although children are exempt from the performance of mitsvot, both boys and girls were introduced early on to the various rituals so that they would be well accustomed to them when they reached majority---girls at the age of 12 and boys at the age of 13. Traditionally, girls were not encouraged to participate in the various rituals such as those pertaining to Tsitsit, Tefillin, Tallit, etc., from which they were exempt. In nearly all communities, except the extremely traditional Orthodox, this pattern is currently changing, with Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements taking the lead. Today, girls in virtually all communities attend school.

The filial obligations of children are recorded in the Pentateuch under the rubrics of honor (Ex. 20:12) and reverence (Lev. 19:3). Honor requires the provision of food, drink, and personal needs. Reverence requires that the child not sit in his parent's seat or contradict him in conversation (Kid. 31b). The Bible (Deut. 21:18-21) even invoked the death penalty for the Rebellious Son who disregarded his parents and exhibited other extreme forms of anti-social behavior. The predominant opinion in the Talmud claims that the Bible's intent was never actually to cause such a child to be executed but rather to express a value judgment upon such actions (San. 71a). However, a child is instructed to defy his parents should they order him to transgress the laws of Judaism.

A child born of an incestuous or adulterous relationship is designated a mamzer and may not marry into the community (Yev. 49a; see Illegitimacy). Such a child is still considered a Jew, however, and is permitted to marry another mamzer. The Talmud further states that a mamzer who is a Torah scholar is to be accorded higher honor than an uneducated High Priest (Hor. 3:8). There is no legal stigma attached to children born out of wedlock.

In practice, the Jewish household has traditionally revolved around the bearing and rearing of children. Jewish parents the world over aspire to be blessed with God-fearing children and grandchildren and to be able to take pride in their offspring's accomplishments (see also Family; Mother; Parent and Child.)

Oxford Dictionary of British History:

children

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The proportion of children in British society has varied over time. In 1801, the proportion of children under 15 years was estimated to have been one-third of the total, increasing to almost 40 per cent by the mid-19th cent. By 1991 the proportion of children had decreased to about a quarter of the total population. Although many children were born, infant mortality rates were high until the improvements in health care in the last quarter of the 19th cent. Official statistics indicate that the number of children per family varied little between social classes until the 1870s, when contraception was taken up by the better-off. Access to contraception spread to all levels of society during the 20th cent., particularly after the introduction of the female contraceptive pill in the 1960s.

Attitudes to children have varied over time. The concept of childhood drawn from the doctrine of original sin required that children be saved from the devil by a sound inculcation of Christian values beginning with the sacrament of baptism. The image of a child was not of innocence but of an imp, likely to commit sin unless corrected. It was accepted that all children at every level of society needed religious education. The care of children was normally the task of parents but, amongst the wealthy, care was the responsibility of special servants, such as nursemaids or ‘nannies’. In the later Middle Ages, the sons of the aristocracy were sent as pages into another noble household at about the age of 12 years. Later, children of the upper classes were educated at home by a resident tutor or governess, while the middle classes sent their sons away from home to boarding schools.

A dramatic challenge to accepted ideas about children and childhood emerged in the 18th cent., expressed at its most controversial in Émile by J. J. Rousseau. The English edition appeared in 1763. Rousseau argued that children were born innocent and would continue so unless corrupted by adults. Although this remained a minority view for many years, it helped to modify some severity towards children. In addition, this new view of children stimulated the development of special toys and pastimes to help them learn. A major innovation, led by the publisher John Newberry in the later 18th cent., was literature specifically designed for child readers.

The enjoyment of leisure in the ways suggested in the debates about childhood was completely outside the experience of most children. In rural areas, children of the less well-off had always performed household and other tasks. This pattern was continued in urban and industrial areas with children as young as 3 years being employed in textiles, mines, and other occupations. Charles Kingsley's account of the London chimney sweeps in The Water Babies, and many of Dickens's novels, drew attention in fiction to the reality of life for many children. During the 19th cent. there was increasing involvement of the state to protect children by controlling working practices and, eventually, to finance and regulate full-time education. State intervention continued in the 20th cent., raising the age at which children might leave compulsory full-time education and giving access to a range of educational opportunities.

Word Tutor:

children

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: More than one young boy or girl.

pronunciation To make your children capable of honesty is the beginning of education. — John Ruskin (1819-1900).

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

Sign Language Videos:

child

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sign description: One hand, palm down makes a patting gesture.



Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'child'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to child, see:
Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary:

child

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  See crossword solutions for the clue Childless.
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Child

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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
This article is about the human "child". For other uses, see Child (disambiguation).
Children at a primary school in Paris
Peruvian school children in Lima

Biologically, a child (plural: children) is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child.[1] The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. "Child" may also describe a relationship with a parent (such as sons and daughters of any age)[2] or, metaphorically, an authority figure, or signify group membership in a clan, tribe, or religion; it can also signify being strongly affected by a specific time, place, or circumstance, as in "a child of nature" or "a child of the Sixties".[3]

Contents

Legal, biological, and social definitions

Population aged under 15 years in 2005

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as "a human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier".[4] Ratified by 192 of 194 member countries. Some English definitions of the word 'child' include the fetus and the unborn.[5] Biologically, a child is anyone between birth and puberty or in the developmental stage of childhood, between infancy and adulthood. Children generally have fewer rights than adults and are classed as not able to make serious decisions, and legally must always be under the care of a responsible adult.

Recognition of childhood as a state different from adulthood began to emerge in the 16th and 17th centuries. Society began to relate to the child not as a miniature adult but as a person of a lower level of maturity needing adult protection, love and nurturing. This change can be traced in painting: In the Middle Ages, children were portrayed in art as miniature adults with no childish characteristics. In the 16th century, images of children began to acquire a distinct childish appearance. From the late 17th century onwards, children were shown playing. Toys and literature for children also began to develop at this time.[6]

Children's Games, 1560, Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Attitudes toward children

Social attitudes toward children differ around the world in various cultures. These attitudes have changed over time. A 1988 study on European attitudes toward the centrality of children found that Italy was more child-centric and Holland less child-centric, with other countries, such as Austria, Great Britain, Ireland and West Germany falling in between.[7]

Socialization

Children in Namibia

All children go through stages of social development. An infant or very young child will play alone happily. If another child wanders onto the scene, he or she may be physically attacked or pushed out of the way. Next, the child is able to play with another child, gradually learning to share and take turns. Eventually the group grows larger, to three or four children. By the time a child enters kindergarten, he or she is usually able to join in and enjoy group experiences.[8]

Children with ADHD and learning disabilities may need extra help in developing social skills. The impulsive characteristics of an ADHD child may lead to poor peer relationships. Children with poor attention spans may not tune in to social cues in their environment, making it difficult for them to learn social skills through experience.[8]

Age of responsibility

Further information: Age of consent, Age of majority, Age of criminal responsibility, and Marriageable age

The age at which children are considered responsible for their society-bound actions (e. g. marriage, voting, etc.) has also changed over time, and this is reflected in the way they are treated in courts of law. In Roman times, children were regarded as not culpable for crimes, a position later adopted by the Church. In the nineteenth century, children younger than seven years old were believed incapable of crime. Children from the age of seven forward were considered responsible for their actions. Therefore, they could face criminal charges, be sent to adult prison, and be punished like adults by whipping, branding or hanging. [9] Today, in many countries like Canada and the United States, children twelve and older are held responsible for their actions and may be sent to special correctional institutions, such as juvenile hall.

Surveys have found that at least 25 countries around the world have no specified age for compulsory education. Minimum employment age and marriage age also vary. In at least 125 countries, children aged 7–15 may be taken to court and risk imprisonment for criminal acts. In some countries, children are legally obliged to go to school until they are 14 or 15 years old, but may also work before that age. A child's right to education is threatened by early marriage, child labour and imprisonment.[10]

Child mortality

Children rounded up for deportation to the Chełmno extermination camp. Some 1.5 million Jewish children were murdered by the Nazis.

During the early 1600s in England, life expectancy was only about 35 years, largely because two-thirds of all children died before the age of four.[11] During the Industrial Revolution, the life expectancy of children increased dramatically.[12]

According to population health experts, child mortality rates have fallen sharply since the 1990s. Deaths of children under the age of five are down by 42% in the United States, while Serbia and Malaysia have cut their rates by nearly 70%.[13]

One-child policy

Main article: One-child policy
See also: Two-child policy

China's one-child policy forces some couples to have no more than one child. China's population policy has been credited with a very significant slowing of China's population growth which had been higher before the policy was implemented. It has come under criticism that the implementation of the policy has involved forced abortions and forced sterilization. However, while the punishment of "unplanned" pregnancy is a fine, both forced abortion and forced sterilization can be charged as intentional assault, which is punished with up to 10 years' imprisonment. If born with another child and kept, parents must pay a large fine for every day he/she is alive.

See also

References

  1. ^ See Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 397 (6th ed. 2007), which's first definition is "A fetus; an infant;...". See also ‘The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: Complete Text Reproduced Micrographically’, Vol. I (Oxford University Press, Oxford 1971): 396, which defines it as: ‘The unborn or newly born human being; foetus, infant’.
  2. ^ For example, the US Social Security department specifically defines an adult child as being over 18
  3. ^ "American Heritage Dictionary". 2007-12-07. http://www.bartleby.com/61/13/C0291300.html. 
  4. ^ “Convention on the Rights of the Child” The Policy Press, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  5. ^ See Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 397 (6th ed. 2007), which's first definition is "A fetus; an infant;...". See also ‘The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: Complete Text Reproduced Micrographically’, Vol. I (Oxford University Press, Oxford 1971): 396, which defines it as: ‘The unborn or newly born human being; foetus, infant’.
  6. ^ Essays on childhood
  7. ^ Rachel K. Jones and April Brayfield, Life's greatest joy?: European attitudes toward the centrality of children. Social Forces, Vol. 75, No. 4, Jun 1997. 1,239-69 pp. Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  8. ^ a b Socialization stages
  9. ^ Juvenile courts
  10. ^ Melchiorre, A. (2004) At What Age?...are school-children employed, married and taken to court?
  11. ^ W. J. Rorabaugh, Donald T. Critchlow, Paula C. Baker (2004). "America's promise: a concise history of the United States". Rowman & Littlefield. p.47. ISBN 0742511898
  12. ^ "Modernization - Population Change". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  13. ^ Child mortality rates dropping

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Children
Human Development: Biological  • Psychological
Pre- and perinatal
Biological
Psychological
Infancy
Biological
Psychological
Childhood
Biological
Psychological
Adolescence
Biological
Psychological
Young adulthood
Psychological
Middle adulthood
Biological
Maturity
Biological
Psychological
Legal and general definitions
Theorists and theories

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Translations:

Child

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - barn, produkt, [sl] far her

idioms:

  • child abuse    børnemishandling
  • child allowance    børnetilskud, børnefradrag
  • child benefit    børnetilskud
  • child prodigy    vidunderbarn
  • child proof    børnesikker
  • child's play    barneleg, barnemad
  • children's home    børnehjem

Nederlands (Dutch)
kind, kinder-

Français (French)
n. - enfant, (fig) enfant de

idioms:

  • child abuse    sévices sexuels infligés aux enfants, (gén) mauvais traitements infligés aux enfants
  • child allowance    allocations familiales
  • child benefit    allocations familiales
  • child prodigy    enfant prodige
  • child proof    de sécurité, à l'épreuve des enfants
  • child's play    jeu d'enfant
  • children's home    maison d'enfants
  • with child    (porter) un enfant (en son sein) (arch)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Kind

idioms:

  • child abuse    Kindermißhandlung
  • child allowance    Kindergeld
  • child benefit    Kindergeld
  • child prodigy    Wunderkind
  • child proof    kindersicher
  • child's play    ein Kinderspiel
  • children's home    Kinderheim
  • with child    schwanger [sein]

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - παιδί, τέκνο, απόγονος
adj. - παιδικός, των παιδιών

idioms:

  • child abuse    κακοποίηση ανηλίκων
  • child allowance    επίδομα τέκνων
  • child benefit    επίδομα τέκνων
  • child prodigy    παιδί θαύμα
  • child proof    ακίνδυνος για παιδιά, που δεν κινδυνεύει κατά τη χρήση από παιδιά
  • child's play    (καθομ.) εύκολη δουλειά, παιχνιδάκι
  • children's home    άσυλο ανηλίκων

Italiano (Italian)
figliolo, bambino, bimbo, piccolo, infantile, da bambino

idioms:

  • child allowance/benefit    mancetta del bambino
  • child prodigy    bambino prodigio
  • child proof    a prova di bambino, di sicurezza
  • child's play    gioco per bambini

Português (Portuguese)
n. - filho (m), criança (f), discípulo (m)
adj. - imaturo

idioms:

  • child allowance/benefit    dinheiro pago pelo governo às famílias para que cuidem das crianças
  • child prodigy    criança (f) prodígio
  • child proof    à prova de criança
  • child's play    brincadeira (f) de criança

Русский (Russian)
ребенок, дитя

idioms:

  • child allowance/benefit    пособие на ребенка
  • child prodigy    вундеркинд
  • child proof    недоступный для детей
  • child's play    пустяки

Español (Spanish)
n. - hija, hijo, niña, niño

idioms:

  • child abuse    maltrato de menores, acoso sexual a menores
  • child allowance    prestación familiar por hijos
  • child benefit    prestación familiar por hijos
  • child prodigy    niño prodigio
  • child proof    a prueba de niños
  • child's play    es cosa de coser y cantar
  • children's home    orfanato
  • with child    embarazada

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - barn, avkomling, efterföljare, lärjunge, idé, ättling
adj. - barn-

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
孩子, 弟子, 产物

idioms:

  • child abuse    虐待儿童, 漫骂小孩
  • child allowance    子女津贴
  • child benefit    儿童补助金, 儿童津贴
  • child prodigy    神童
  • child proof    不危害儿童的, 对儿童安全的
  • child's play    容易干的事
  • children's home    儿童收容所

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 孩子, 弟子, 產物

idioms:

  • child abuse    虐待兒童, 漫罵小孩
  • child allowance    子女津貼
  • child benefit    兒童補助金, 兒童津貼
  • child prodigy    神童
  • child proof    不危害兒童的, 對兒童安全的
  • child's play    容易幹的事
  • children's home    兒童收容所

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 아이, 자식, 제자

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 子供, 児童, 幼児, 子, 申し子, 人, 子供っぽい人, 未熟な人, 子孫, 弟子

idioms:

  • child abuse    児童虐待
  • child allowance/benefit    児童手当
  • child prodigy    天才児
  • child proof    チャイルドプルーフ子供に安全な

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) طفل, ابن (صفه) طفلي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮ילד, בן, תינוק‬

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American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
TechEncyclopedia. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2012 The Computer Language Company Inc.  All rights reserved.  Read more
Roget's Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Answers Corporation Antonyms by Answers.com. © 1999-present by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Encyclopedia of Judaism. The New Encyclopedia of Judaism. Copyright © 1989, 2002 by G.G. The Jerusalem Publishing House, Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more
Oxford Dictionary of British History. A Dictionary of British History. Copyright © 2001, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
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 Rhymes. Oxford University Press. © 2006, 2007 All rights reserved.  Read more
Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary. Collins Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary © Anne Bradford, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 HarperCollins Publishers All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Child.  Read more
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