A dark slender thread of a bayou moves loiteringly northeastward into a swamp of huge cypresses. G. W. Cable. [ 1913 Webster ]

bewildered by the old go-as-you-please liberty of alliterative rhythm. George Saintsbury [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Is this your joyous city? Is. xxiii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

They all as glad as birds of joyous prime. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

And joyous of our conquest early won. Dryden.

Syn. -- Merry; lively; blithe; gleeful; gay; glad; mirthful; sportive; festive; joyful; happy; blissful; charming; delightful.

-- Joy"ous*ly, adv. -- Joy"ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Watch the noyous night, and wait for joyous day. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theater) one or more performances of a play prior to the official opening, held at a location outside of the city where it is to be formally presented, conducted for the purpose of determining audience response or ascertaining weaknesses needing correction. [ PJC ]

Ye go to Canterbury; God you speed. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you
To leave this place. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In vain you tell your parting lover
You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Though you is properly a plural, it is in all ordinary discourse used also in addressing a single person, yet properly always with a plural verb. “Are you he that hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind is so admired ?” Shak. You and your are sometimes used indefinitely, like we, they, one, to express persons not specified. “The looks at a distance like a new-plowed land; but as you come near it, you see nothing but a long heap of heavy, disjointed clods.” Addison. “Your medalist and critic are much nearer related than the world imagine.” Addison. “It is always pleasant to be forced to do what you wish to do, but what, until pressed, you dare not attempt.” Hook. You is often used reflexively for yourself of yourselves. “Your highness shall repose you at the tower.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence, maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; -- said of animals; as, a young child; a young man; a young fawn. [ 1913 Webster ]

For he so young and tender was of age. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

“Whom the gods love, die young, ” has been too long carelessly said; . . . whom the gods love, live young forever. Mrs. H. H. Jackson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Being in the first part, pr period, of growth; as, a young plant; a young tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

While the fears of the people were young. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The egg ] bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed
Their callow young. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

With young, with child; pregnant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father; -- usually used postpositionally; as, Henry the younger.
Syn. -- jr. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

He will not be so willing, I think, to join with you as with us younglings. Ridley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ignorantly; weakly. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Youngth is a bubble blown up with breath. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

That same younker soon was overthrown. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The possessive takes the form yours when the noun to which it refers is not expressed, but implied; as, this book is yours. “An old fellow of yours.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of which right now ye han yourselve heard. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

If yourselves are old, make it your cause. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why should you be so cruel to yourself ? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The religious movement which you yourself, as well as I, so faithfully followed from first to last. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being young; youthfulness; juvenility. “In my flower of youth.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such as in his face
Youth smiled celestial. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He wondered that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who pass their youth in vice are justly condemned to spend their age in folly. Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A young person; especially, a young man. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seven youths from Athens yearly sent. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Young persons, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is fit to read the best authors to youth first. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the early part of life; suitable to early life; as, youthful days; youthful sports. “Warm, youthful blood.” Shak. “Youthful thoughts.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fresh; vigorous, as in youth. [ 1913 Webster ]

After millions of millions of ages . . . still youthful and flourishing. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Puerile; juvenile. -- Youthful, Puerile, Juvenile. Puerile is always used in a bad sense, or at least in the sense of what is suitable to a boy only; as, puerile objections, puerile amusements, etc. Juvenile is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when speaking of youth in contrast with manhood; as, juvenile tricks; a juvenile performance. Youthful is commonly employed in a good sense; as, youthful aspirations; or at least by way of extenuating; as, youthful indiscretions. “Some men, imagining themselves possessed with a divine fury, often fall into toys and trifles, which are only puerilities.” Dryden. “Raw, juvenile writers imagine that, by pouring forth figures often, they render their compositions warm and animated.” Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Youth"ful*ly, adv. -- Youth"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]