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adj. 1. Occurring, growing, or existing before the customary, correct, or assigned time; uncommonly or unexpectedly early: a premature end. 2. Born after a gestation period of less than the normal time: a premature infant. [Middle English, ripe, from Latin praemātūrus, ripe too early : prae-, pre- + mātūrus, ripe; see mā-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pre′ma·turely adv. pre′ma·tureness, pre′ma·turi·ty n. |
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