infancy

débuts, balbutiements

Première étape du développement de quelque chose, avant sa pleine maturité.

En anglais simple : The first stage of something’s development, before it becomes fully developed.

• The project is in its infancy.
• Online shopping was then in its infancy.
• Research in this field remains in its infancy.

Comment l'utiliser : be in its infancy (The technology is still in its infancy.)

Synonymes : early stages, beginnings

Contraires : maturity

Expressions courantes : in its infancy, still in infancy

petite enfance

Première période de la vie d’un enfant, quand il est encore bébé.

En anglais simple : The first part of a child’s life, when they are a baby.

• She was often ill in infancy.
• Good nutrition matters during infancy.
• He had known her since infancy.

Synonymes : babyhood

Expressions courantes : in infancy, early infancy, during infancy, from infancy

minorité

Situation juridique d’une personne trop jeune pour avoir tous les droits et devoirs d’un adulte.

En anglais simple : The legal condition of being too young to have all the rights and duties of an adult.

• The court considered her infancy when reviewing the contract.
• He relied on the defence of infancy.
• Infancy may limit a person’s legal capacity.

Synonymes : minority

Contraires : majority

Expressions courantes : during infancy, defence of infancy