Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Premature"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Premature \Pre`ma*ture"\, a. [L. praematurus; prae before +
maturus ripe. See {Mature}.]
1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature
fruits of a hotbed.
2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the
proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early;
untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth;
a premature opinion; premature decay.
3. Arriving or received without due authentication or
evidence; as, a premature report. -- {Pre`ma*ture"ly},
adv. -- {Pre`ma*ture"ness}, n.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
premature
adj 1: born after a gestation period of less than the normal time;
"a premature infant" [ant: {full-term}]
2: too soon or too hasty; "our condemnation of him was a bit
previous"; "a premature judgment" [syn: {previous(p)}]
3: uncommonly early or before the expected time; "illness led
to his premature death"; "alcohol brought him to an
untimely end" [syn: {untimely}]
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