child
UK[tʃaɪld]US[tʃaɪld]
n
A young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority.
Etymology
The word 'child' originates from the Old English 'cild', meaning 'fetus, infant, or unborn or newly born person'. Its deeper roots are traced to the Proto-Germanic 'kiltham', a word of uncertain origin, though it may be related to the Gothic 'kilþei' meaning 'womb'. Unlike many words that are built from classical roots, 'child' represents a core, ancient concept that has been passed down through the Germanic language family with its essential meaning intact. Its journey from Old English to modern English is one of semantic narrowing and phonetic evolution, solidifying its place as the primary term for a young human.
Analysis
The word 'child' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
They have a young child who just started school.
Every child deserves access to quality education.
She read a story to the child at bedtime.