[f. YOUNG a. + -NESS.] The state or quality of being young; youthfulness: YOUTH 1, 3 (but usually expressing the character or appearance of one who is young, rather than the mere fact of being young).
1528. Paynell, Salerne’s Regim., F j. Their drines is abated with the humidite of theyr yongnes.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xxiii. 38. Will he my ȝongnes ȝit With mercy once remit, I trou to faill no more.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. § 18. 312. The Youngness and Newness of its Duration.
a. 1735. Earl Haddington, Forest-Trees (1756), 27. The youngness of the plants made them take root sooner than if they had been older.
1835. Lytton, Rienci, I. vii. How flushed and mighty as with the youngness of a god.
1901. Juliet Wilbor Tompkins, in Munsey’s Mag., XXV. 694/1. The first cabin passengers crowded to the stairs to see the stowaway bought up, exclaimed over his youngness and his good looks.
1919. C’tess von Arnim, Chris. & Col., xxx. 394. Those cunning little bits of youngness, the Twinkler sisters.
† b. The time when one is young; the early period of life or existence: = YOUTH 2. Obs.
1510–20. Compl. of them that ben to late maryed (1862), 12. We twayne sholde have all our yongenesse … Passed in joye.
1579. Knewstub, Confut., 35. They let passe the childhood, or the yongnes of the holy vnderstanding, & grew vp … vnto the manly agednes of Christ.
