n. [ Fr., fr. L. adolescentia. ] The state of growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood; youth, or the period of life between puberty and maturity, generally considered to be, in the male sex, from fourteen to twenty-one. Sometimes used with reference to the lower animals. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality of being adolescent; youthfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A youth. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ L. adolescens, p. pr. of adolescere to grow up to; ad + the inchoative olescere to grow: cf. F. adolescent. See Adult. ] Growing; advancing from childhood to maturity. [ 1913 Webster ]
Schools, unless discipline were doubly strong,
Detain their adolescent charge too long. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]