The roots of this word come from the Old French “nonage,” with a combination of the negative prefix “non-” and “eage” or “aage,” the precursors to “age.” It translates literally into “not of age.” There are a few interpretations to nonage: It can be a synonym for “immaturity,” or it can apply to a general period of youth, such as the teenage years. There is also a more formal interpretation of “nonage,” as the state of not being able to legally manage one’s affairs or enter into marriage or own property.