Childlets

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small offspring or young children considered collectively; diminutive young beings in a familial context; a term denoting little children
2. Very young human descendants collectively referred to in an affectionate or diminutive manner; the smallest members of a family group; younglings or toddlers
3. Minor kids or small juveniles regarded as a group; tiny progeny within a family unit; youthful offspring in endearing or informal expression

Etymology: "Childlets" is the plural of "childlet," a noun formed by attaching the diminutive suffix "-let" to "child." English "child" comes from Old English "cild," which has an irregular plural, "children," that formed in the same period. The regular English plural, "childlets," takes the "-s" ending that most nouns use. The suffix "-let" came into English from Anglo-Norman and Old French "-elet," which descends from Latin diminutives like "-ellus." It turns a noun into a little version of itself, as in "booklet" or "streamlet." "Childlet" therefore means a little child, and its plural describes a group of them.

Synonyms: child, kid

Antonyms: adult