Etymonline comments: Specific sense of "adult male of the human race" (distinguished from a woman or boy) is by late Old English (c. 1000); implying that "man" was used in a purely non-gendered way before then. If an adult gets kidnapped, would it still be considered "kid"napping?

Understanding the Context

[duplicate] Ask Question Asked 11 years, 11 months ago Modified 11 years, 11 months ago "Adult children" comes from "adult children of alcoholics", but now has broader reference to adults who were abused emotionally, physically or sexually in childhood. 16 The word adult appear to have derived from the Latin term adultus, meaning grown up, mature, adult, ripe. Adulterate (and its cognate adultery) is reported to derive from the Latin adulterare - to falsify, corrupt. Are the meanings and derivation of adult and adulterate, directly related, or is this just a coincidence of spelling?

Key Insights

"adult children" is sometimes used in contexts where age is important, such as a form requiring someone to list all children under 18 and all adult children living with them. And someone might use it to emphasise that their children have left home or aren't dependent on them. But you wouldn't introduce someone as "my adult child/ren". There is a specific term, and it keeps evading me, that refers to an adult who still embraces child-like wonder, curiosity, etc.... Not inferring a child-like or infantile adult, i.e.

Final Thoughts

someone with a terminology - synonym for child-like [adult] - English Language & Usage ... expressions - If an adult gets kidnapped, would it still be considered ...