prae-mātūrus, a, um, adj.
- I. Very early, early (syn. praecox): fructus, Col. 11, 3, 51.
- II. Too early, untimely, premature: denuntiatio, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 8: mors, Plin. 7, 51, 52, § 171; so, cineres, Juv. 11, 44: hiems, Tac. A. 1, 30: honores, id. ib. 4, 17: canities, id. ib. 14, 57.
In neutr. sing.: castrari agnos, nisi quinquemestres, praematurum existimatur, is thought too early, premature, Plin. 8, 48, 75, § 198.
Adv.: praemātūrē, too soon, untimely, prematurely (ante- and post-class.): praemature vitā careo, Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 69: cum significandum est coactius quid factum, et festinatius, tum rectius praemature factum id dicitur, quam mature, Gell. 10, 11, 8.
Comp.: praematurius agi, Dig. 45, 1, 118.