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.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, ripe, from Latin praemtrus, ripe too early : prae-, pre- + mtrus, ripe; see m-1 in Appendix I.
pr
m
-ty
r
, -t
t
rus, ripe too early : prae-, pre- + m
