Youthsome

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having the qualities, appearance, or vigor characteristic of young people; displaying youthful energy and vitality
2. Having traits such as liveliness and freshness that are often associated with being young
3. embodying the spirit and energy typical of youth

Etymology: "Youthsome" is a plain formation: the noun "youth" with the suffix "-some," which English has long used to make adjectives meaning "having a quality or characteristic." The same suffix gives us "lonesome," "wholesome" and "handsome," all built on the same pattern of a base word plus "-some." The suffix comes from Old English "-sum," which carried the same sense of "characterised by" or "tending to," so "youthsome" follows a very old English recipe rather than a borrowed one. Its meaning sits neatly on that base: something youthsome shows the lively, energetic character we associate with being young.