Youth \Youth\ ([=u]th), n.; pl. Youths ([=u]ths; 264) or collectively Youth. [OE. youthe, youh[thorn]e, [yogh]uhe[eth]e, [yogh]uwe[eth]e, [yogh]eo[yogh]e[eth]e, AS. geogu[eth], geogo[eth]; akin to OS. jug[eth], D. jeugd, OHG.

1. See Young.]

1. The quality or state of being young; youthfulness; juvenility. ``In my flower of youth.'' --Milton.

Such as in his face Youth smiled celestial. --Milton.

2. The part of life that succeeds to childhood; the period of existence preceding maturity or age; the whole early part of life, from childhood, or, sometimes, from infancy, to manhood.

He wondered that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home. --Shak.

Those who pass their youth in vice are justly condemned to spend their age in folly. --Rambler.

3. A young person; especially, a young man.

Seven youths from Athens yearly sent. --Dryden.

4. Young persons, collectively.

It is fit to read the best authors to youth first. --B. Jonson.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)