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Infant vs Foetus - What's the difference?

infant | foetus |

As nouns the difference between infant and foetus

is that infant is a very young human being, from birth to somewhere between six months and two years of age, needing almost constant care and/or attention while foetus is (chiefly|british|hypercorrect).

As a verb infant

is (obsolete) to bear or bring forth (a child); to produce, in general.

infant

English

(wikipedia infant)

Alternative forms

* infaunt (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A very young human being, from birth to somewhere between six months and two years of age, needing almost constant care and/or attention.
  • (legal) A minor.
  • (obsolete) A noble or aristocratic youth.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.2:
    • Retourned home, the royall Infant fell / Into her former fitt [...].

    Related terms

    * infanticide * infantile

    See also

    * sudden infant death syndrome * newborn * neonate

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To bear or bring forth (a child); to produce, in general.
  • * Milton
    • This worthy motto, "No bishop, no king," is infanted out of the same fears.
    ----

    foetus

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (chiefly, British, hypercorrect)

    • Usage notes

    The form (fetus) is preferred in North America and in the scientific community, whereas (foetus) is still commonly used in Commonwealth nations.

    Derived terms

    * foetal

    References

    * ----