pre·ma·ture 
(prē′mə-tyr, -tr, -chr)
(prē′mə-tyr, -tr, -chr)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.
- Indo-European root: krei-
- Indo-European root: kreus-
- Indo-European root: kreuə-
- Indo-European root: ksun
- Indo-European root: kwe
- Indo-European root: kwei-
- Indo-European root: kwei-
- Indo-European root: kweit-
- Indo-European root: kweiə-
- Indo-European root: kwel-
- Indo-European root: kwel-
- Indo-European root: kwen-
- Indo-European root: kwent(h)-
- Indo-European root: kwer-
- Indo-European root: kwes-
- Indo-European root: kwetwer-
- Indo-European root: kwo-
- Indo-European root: kwon-
- Indo-European root: kwrep-
- Indo-European root: kwr̥mi-
- Indo-European root: kwēt-
- Indo-European root: kā-
- Indo-European root: kō-
- Indo-European root: laks-
- Indo-European root: las-