Premature
/ˌpriː.məˈtjʊər/noun
Occurring or done before the proper time.
Did you know?The word entered English through French and Latin, and its core idea is not just “early” but “before full ripeness,” like something cut off before it could complete its natural cycle.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meh₂-
“to measure, to be of proper size or maturity”
Latin
Latin
prae
“before”
Latin
Latin
maturus
“ripe, timely, ripe for action”
Late Latin
Latin
praematurus
“too early, unripe before its time”
Middle French
French
prématuré
“premature, before the proper time”
Late Middle English
English
premature
“occurring before the proper time”
Explore more surprising origins