- The word baby is incredibly polysemous; most recently, it has come to refer to a person who is innocent and immature, lacking worldly experience. This term is used almost entirely self-referentially in the phrase “I’m baby.” Interestingly, this word is only used as a predicate adjective, unlike baby’s other adjectival form, used in phrases such as “a baby cow” to denote a young or small version of something; outside of “I’m baby,” the term is only used in phrases such as “you’re baby” or “he’s baby.” It was formed via metaphor from the idea that human babies are incapable of existing on their own due to their helplessness and lack of worldly experience. This word usually has positive connotations, despite baby having been used as an insult in the past in phrases such as “you’re a baby.”
baby(1)
adjective metaphorical extension
innocently immature or incompetent: unable to accomplish tasks or deal with problems due to immaturity.
Etymology : formed by metaphorical extension of baby, from Middle English meaning human child.
Source : “Oh my god, stop calling me out, I’m baby!” (friend at Jones College in response to being called out for not doing her laundry, 10/19/19)
Last modified: 11 December 2019