bairnlike

Definitions

Like a bairn; childlike.

Northern-England, Scotland, rare

Examples

“[…] and then it was a pleasure to me — yes, a pleasure, Mr. Lowrie, to spend⟳ a' my spare⟳ time by his bedside, and listen⟳ to his bairnlike thoughts about Divine things.”

“She offered him sixpence for a letter, any letter he liked, but of course he refused it. Then she prigged with him just to let⟳ her hold⟳ one in her hands, for said she, bairnlike, “I used to get⟳ one every day.””

“His green eyes sparkled with an exuberance that looked almost bairnlike.”

“Thomas turned thirteen. […] Yet he had not thrown off the trappings of a child. He was small and bairnlike, and his skin was smooth. His voice, when he sang the psalms, was as faint and feeble as a boy of nine's, rising sweet and tremulous.”

CEFR level