young man, Hom. (only in Od.) always with ἀνήρ, νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς Od. 10.278; ἄνδρες κοιμήσαντο νεηνίαι 14.524; παῖδες νεηνίαι Hdt. 1.61, cf. 7.99; ν. γαμβρός Pi. O. 7.4; τέκτονες κώμων ν. Id. N. 3.5: without a Subst. in Hdt. 1.37, 43, S. OC 335, El. 750, E. Alc. 698, X. Mem. 3.1.2, etc.
freq. with the sense of a youth in character, i.e. either in good sense, impetuous, active, E. Ion 1041, cf. Ar. V. 1333, X. Cyr. 1.3.6, D. 18.313; or in bad sense, hot-headed, wilful, headstrong, E. Supp. 580; ἓν μὲν τοίνυν τοῦτο . . πολίτευμα τοῦ νεανίου τούτου D. 18.136, cf. Pl. Sph. 239d.
as masc. Adj., youthful, νεανίαι τὰς ὄψεις Lys. 10.29.
of things, etc., new, young, fresh, νεανίαις ὤμοισι E. Hel. 1562; ν. θώρακα καὶ βραχίονα Id. HF 1095; ἄρτος Ar. Lys. 1207; ν. λόγοι rash, wilful words, E. Alc. 679. [νεανιῶν is trisyll. in Ar. V. 1069; cf. νεανικός.]