prematuredadj.
/prɛməˈtʃʊəd/, /prɛməˈtjʊəd/, /prɛməˈtʃɔːd/, /prɛməˈtjɔːd/, U.S. /ˌpriməˈtʃərd/, /ˌpriməˈtʃʊ(ə)rd/ Now rare.
= premature adj. Now chiefly in South-East Asian use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [adjective] > early or premature
rathe1340
soona1400
premature?1530
fore-ripeda1533
untimeousc1540
immature1548
overtimely1548
prematurate1570
oversoona1586
over-early1605
premiseda1616
prematured1692
unearthly1865
previous1869
1692 J. Dunton Young-students-libr. 356/1 They believed that where Gregory..said that he was Old, that was to be understood of a prematured old Age, because the Interpreter made use of this term.
1768 Woman of Honor II. 12 Its being a little prematured was of no great moment.
1851 Times 25 July 8/4 He must disclaim the merit of any bold, enthusiastic, and prematured plans.
1885 St Joseph (Mich.) Traveler Herald 30 May 4/1 The prematured removal of three front teeth had not given him a weirdly poetical appearance.
1945 Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 24 Oct. 8/1 It was very disappointing..not to be able to hear the last notes of her songs on account of the prematured applause.
2001 New Straits (Malaysia) Times (Nexis) 9 June 10 Every precaution has to be taken to ensure that the threat to society is not increased by the prematured release of prisoners.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1692