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.
3. Fresh; vigorous, as in youth.
After millions of millions of ages . . . still
youthful and flourishing. --Bentley.
Usage: {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. -- {Youth"ful*ly}, adv. -- {Youth"ful*ness},
n.