I.inability to speak.
I. Lit.: “linguae,” Lucr. 5, 1031.—
B. In partic., want of eloquence: “infantia ejus, qui rem norit, sed eam explicare dicendo non queat,” Cic. de Or. 3, 35, 142: “incredibilis accusatorum,” id. Att. 4, 16, 8: infantiae in dicendo, Quint. 5, 13, 38. —
II. Transf., infancy, early childhood: “quantum in infantia praesumptum est temporis, adulescentiae acquiritur,” Quint. 1, 1, 19: “prima ab infantia,” from earliest infancy, Tac. A. 1, 4: “nostra infantia caelum hausit Aventini,” Juv. 3, 85.— Of animals, the youth, etc.: “asini,” Plin. 8, 44, 69, § 171: “cervi ab infantia educati,” id. 10, 63, 83, § 182.— “Of inanim. things: sed est sua ?*!etiam studiis infantia,” Quint. 1, 1, 21: “pomi,” Plin. 15, 19, 21, § 80: “vinum cum in infantia est, dulce,” Macr. S. 7, 7.—
2. Second childhood, childishness: “cum voce trementia membra . . . madidique infantia nasi,” Juv. 10, 199. —
B. Collect., the young, children: “irritandae ad discendum infantiae,” Quint. 1, 1, 26: “surculi infantiae adalligati,” Plin. 32, 2, 11, § 24.