babyish en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈbeɪbiɪʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- Proto-Germanic *bō-redup. Proto-Germanic *babô Proto-West Germanic *babō Old English *baba Middle English babe Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y Middle English baby English baby Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Proto-Germanic *-iskaz Proto-West Germanic *-isk Old English -isċ Middle English -isch English -ish English babyish From baby + -ish.
Meanings
-
Like or suitable for a baby or a young child; childish
For a young man, he has the most babyish voice I've heard.
Clothes like these are too babyish for a child his age.
As soon as the King and the rest of the hunting party had set off, she began making a tour of the whole castle and asking questions, but all in such an innocent, babyish way that no one could suspect her of any secret design.
1953, C. S. Lewis, chapter 9, in The Silver Chair, Collins, published 1998:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more babyish | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most babyish | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
hissy · lactifluous · babish · dootsie · milky · simple · kiddish · juvenile · immature · bairnish · infantine · infantile · puerile · babyish · childish · puerile
Translations (8)
fr bébête (like a baby) · gv oikanagh (like a baby) · is kjánalegur (like a baby) · is smábarnalegur (like a baby) · es pueril (like a baby) · is barnalegur (like a baby) · sv barnslig (like a baby) · es infantil (like a baby)