Wean

Among the Hebrews children (whom it was customary for the mothers to nurse, Ex. 2:7-9; 1 Sam. 1:23; Cant. 8:1) were not generally weaned till they were three or four years old.

WEAN. As a daily portion was not allotted to Levite children until they reached the age of three years, 2 Chr 31:16, it has been inferred that among the Jews children continued to suckle up to that time. The weaning was celebrated by a feast. Gen 21:8.

WEAN. As a daily portion was not allotted to Levite children until they reached the age of three years, 2 Chr 31:16, it has been inferred that among the Jews children continued to suckle up to that time. The weaning was celebrated by a feast. Gen 21:8.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A weanling; a young child. I, being but a yearling wean. Mrs. Browning.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To accustom and reconcile, as a child or other young animal, to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder; to cause to cease to depend on the mother nourishment. And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Gen. xxi. 8.

2. Hence, to detach or alienate the affections of, from any object of desire; to reconcile to the want or loss of anything. "Wean them from themselves." Shak. The troubles of age were intended . . . to wean us gradually from our fondness of life. Swift.