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infancy

infancy

35 3.7
The very early time when something is just starting
  • noun
  • /ˈɪnfənsi/
translation icon : inicio
  • In these students' view, the university, though small and still in its infancy, held great growth potential.
  • in its infancy
  • early infancy
  • remain in its infancy

The only challenge we have is between now their infancy and then their adulthood.

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Examples

  • Mental illness, of course at that time was not very well understood and treatments were still in their infancy.

  • And we're still, in my opinion, in our infancy of really uncovering a lot of these explorations.

  • Yet despite its infancy, the new city appears to have grown quite rapidly.

  • In 1925, the welfare state was still in its infancy throughout the Western world.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Experimental studies toward that end are in their infancy, but several promising theoretical proposals have already been developed.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Visual object recognition for assistive technology is still in its infancy, with only a few applications proposed in recent years.

    Academic text (2012)
  • But we really are in our infancy of understanding this, quantifying the microbiome.

    ZOE
  • The research and applications of reconfigurable intelligent modular robots are still at their infancy stage.

    Academic text (2011)
  • One of the most rewarding moments of infancy for parents is the first truly responsive smile.

  • He was the first of Klara's children to survive infancy.

Synonyms

cradle
vsinfancy
33 5.0

A place where something begins or develops

is about the beginning time itself rather than the starting place
youth
vsinfancy
9 1.6

The early time in the life of something

is the very first stage when something is just beginning
babyhood
vsinfancy
1 1.0

The early part of life when a person is a baby

is the general beginning stage for anything, not restricted to people
embryonic state
vsinfancy
1 6.5

An early stage when an idea or plan is not yet developed

is the general first stage of existence, not only undeveloped states
embryonic stage
vsinfancy
  • Specialized
1 5.5

An early part of an animal or plant's life when it is still very small

is broader, applying to any beginning period not limited to biological phases
germinal stage
vsinfancy
  • Specialized
7.2

The first stage when a project or living thing begins to form

is the general beginning period across things, not only formations
nascence
vsinfancy
9.9

The time when something first begins to exist, like an idea or a civilization

is focused on the initial stage of development rather than the birth process
nascency
vsinfancy
9.9

The time when something first appears

is about the earliest developmental stage rather than the origination process
cubhood
vsinfancy
8.4

A period when a person or group is new and still learning

is the neutral earliest stage focusing on beginning rather than immaturity

Antonyms

101 3.3

A state of being fully grown in body, mind, or feelings

61 3.1

The time in life when a person is fully grown and has more responsibilities

Idioms

3 4.6

An early stage of development, like a new business or idea

How Developed

maturity
101 3.3
adolescence
60 3.9
infancy
35 3.7
beginning
1.0
origin
228 2.7

Surface Forms

infancy singular
infancies plural

Morphology

infancy = infant (semi-transparent) = infant + cy

The relation to 'infant' is recognizable, but this sense extends from the literal stage of being an infant to a broader figurative meaning of an early stage.

Etymology

The word infancy comes from the old Latin word infans, which meant 'not speaking' and was used for a 'baby', and it is the same root as infant. So, infancy now means the very first or 'beginning' stage of something, when it is new and still growing.