Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pubescent"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pubescent \Pu*bes"cent\, a. [L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of
pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes
pubes: cf. F. pubescent.]
1. Arrived at puberty.
That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of
twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. --Sir T.
Browne.
2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain
insects, and the leaves of some plants.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pubescent
adj 1: (of animals especially human beings) having arrived at the
onset of puberty (the age at which sex glands become
functional) but not yet fully mature; "the budding
breasts of a pubescent girl and the downy chin of
pubescent boy"
2: (biology) covered with fine soft hairs or down; "downy
milkweed seeds" [syn: {downy}, {puberulent}, {sericeous}]
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