Young, a. [Compar. Younger; superl. Youngest.]
Etymology: [OE. yung, yong, , , AS. geong; akin to OFries. iung, iong, D. joing, OS., OHG., & G. jung, Icel. ungr, Sw. & Dan. ung, Goth. juggs, Lith. jaunas, Russ. iunuii, L. juvencus, juvenis, Skr. juva, juven. Junior, Juniper, Juvenile, Younker, Youth.]
1. Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence, maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; -- said of animals; as, a young child; a young man; a young fawn. For he so young and tender was of age. Chaucer. "Whom the gods love, die young," has been too long carelessly said; . . . whom the gods love, live young forever. Mrs. H. H. Jackson.
2. Being in the first part, pr period, of growth; as, a young plant; a young tree. While the fears of the people were young. De Foe.
3. Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak. Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. Shak.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Young, n.
The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively. [The egg] bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed Their callow young. Milton. With young, with child; pregnant.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for young; he lists it under new, youthful.
Where he writes about it:
Young and youthful are applied to that which has life; that which is young is possessed of a comparatively new existence as a living thing, possessing actual youth; that which is youthful manifests the attributes of youth. (Compare youthful.) Fresh applies to that which has the characteristics of newness or youth, while capable of deterioration by lapse of time; that which is unworn, unspoiled, or unfaded; as, a fresh countenance, fresh eggs, fresh flowers. — from new
New is opposed to old, modern to ancient, recent to remote, young to old, aged, etc. — from new
Juvenile and youthful are commonly used in a favorable and kindly sense in their application to those still young; youthful in the sense of having the characteristics of youth, hence fresh, vigorous, light-hearted, buoyant, may have a favorable import as applied to any age, as when we say the old man still retains his youthful ardor, vigor, or hopefulness; juvenile in such use would belittle the statement. — from youthful
Young is distinctively applied to those in the early stage of life or not arrived at maturity. — from youthful