nonage

American  

[non-ij, noh-nij] / ˈnɒn ɪdʒ, ˈnoʊ nɪdʒ /

noun

1. the period of legal minority, or of an age below 21.

2. any period of immaturity.

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nonage British  

/ ˈnəʊnɪdʒ /

noun

1. law the state of being under any of various ages at which a person may legally enter into certain transactions, such as the making of binding contracts, marrying, etc

2. any period of immaturity

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Etymology

Origin of nonage

1350–1400; late Middle English < Middle French ( non-, age ); replacing Middle English nownage < Anglo-French nounage; Middle French as above

Example Sentences

Kant saw humanity living deeply irrational lives in a state of self-imposed nonage, capable of being rescued only by an enlightened but autocratic ruler.

From Slate • Aug. 31, 2016

The founding father of black humor in a new, splendidly gutty translation of his classic about the bitter, unbreakable orphan whose childhood and nonage were a lugubrious epic of squalor, filth, misery and hatred.

From Time Magazine Archive

His "hoy," "bunk" and "bull" stories, his hoaxes, false fronts and fabrications were easily detected and. cast out when he was in his professional nonage.

From Time Magazine Archive

Verily, the citizens, including those of even nonage meeting together, asked one another these questions.

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by Ganguli, Kisari Mohan

You will please to recollect, sir, that during one hundred and sixty years of our childhood we were in our nonage; respecting our parent and looking up to her for books, science, and improvements.

From Noah Webster American Men of Letters by Scudder, Horace E.