youngnessn.

c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) cxliii. 10 Whas childer ben as new settynges in her ȝengnes [c1400 Trin. Dublin ȝeuþe, L. iuventute], Her douȝters ben made & aourned about as liknes of þe temple.

1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. F j Their drines is abated with the humidite of theyr yongnes.

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 96 The youngnes of her yeres..wolde not suffer the hoat and often encounters of her husbande, to ympaire any waye the glasse or precious dye of so rare a perfection.

c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 49 Will he my ȝongnes ȝit With mercy once remit, I trou to faill no more.

1607 G. Markham Cavelarice i. 68 A Foale of such youngnesse, sucking vpon the Damme, eates no bad or vnwholsome meate.

1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 312 The Youngness and Newness of its Duration.

a1735 Earl of Haddington Short Treat. Forest-trees 27 in J. G. Reid Scots Gardiner (1756) The youngness of the plants made them take root sooner than if they had been older.

1796 F. Burney Camilla III. v. viii. 125 I told him, the last time, I had rather he would not ask me so often; which was being almost too sharp, I'm afraid, considering his youngness.

1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi I. i. vii. 115 How flushed and mighty as with the youngness of a god.

1871 H. L. Prior Behind Veil I. i. 13 Flo's laugh is the most delightful thing in the world..a frank bright peal, with a youngness about it which sets one thinking of all the spring days one has ever known.

1901 Munsey's Mag. 25 694/1 The first cabin passengers..exclaimed over his youngness and his good looks.

1919 E. von Arnim Christopher & Columbus xxx. 394 Those cunning little bits of youngness, the Twinkler sisters.

1951 W. Styron Lie down in Darkness v. 153 Fifty years had left him the appearance of a gratuitous, if somewhat dissipated youngness.

1995 D. McLean Bunker Man 215 You smell of fucking youngness and life!

?1505 R. Copland tr. P. Gringore Complaynte them that ben to late Maryed sig. B.i We twayne sholde haue all our yongenesse..Passed in Ioye.

1579 J. Knewstub Confut. Heresies f. 35 They let passe the childhood, or the yongnes of the holy vnderstanding, & grew vp..vnto the manly agednes of Christ.

1664 W. Smith Universal Love 98 Many are enticed to do evil in their youngness.

1910 Let. in H. D. Jenkins Behind Turkish Lattices (2005) ii. 24 I wished for many years past to write a book relating to my childhood and the earlier times of my youngness, but could find neither time nor courage to begin that great work.