[mass noun]the state or period of babyhood or early childhood 幼年;婴儿期 a son who died in infancy. 婴儿期夭折的儿子。 ■the early stage in the development or growth of something 初期,摇篮期 opinion polls were in their infancy. 处于初期的民意测验。 ■(Law)the condition of being a minor (律)未成年
语源
late Middle English: from Latin infantia 'childhood, inability to speak', from infans, infant- (see infant)