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precocious

[pri-koh-shuh s]
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adjective
  1. unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.
  2. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
  3. of or relating to premature development.
  4. Botany.
    1. flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
    2. bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
    3. appearing before leaves, as flowers.
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Origin of precocious

1640–50; Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox (see precocity) + -ous
Related formspre·co·cious·ly, adverbpre·co·cious·ness, nounun·pre·co·cious, adjectiveun·pre·co·cious·ly, adverbun·pre·co·cious·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

intelligentbrightcockymatureadvancedaggressivebeforehandboldbrassycheekydevelopedearlyflipflippantforwardfreshnervyprematurepresumptuouspushy

Examples from the Web for precocious

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • As for that precocious damsel, she would run no least risk of destruction by the satyr.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • Many of our greatest divines have been anything but precocious.

    Self-Help

    Samuel Smiles

  • Her mother tried to frighten her; but the child was too precocious.

    L'Assommoir

    Emile Zola

  • Of precocious nature, she endured her martyrdom with extraordinary fortitude.

  • Henry was still in bed, but awake and reading Smiles with precocious gusto.

    A Great Man

    Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for precocious

precocious

adjective
  1. ahead in development, such as the mental development of a child
  2. botany (of plants, fruit, etc) flowering or ripening early
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Derived Formsprecociously, adverbprecociousness or precocity (prɪˈkɒsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin praecox early maturing, from prae early + coquere to ripen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for precocious

adj.

1640s, "developed before the usual time" (of plants), with -ous + Latin praecox (genitive praecocis) "maturing early," from prae "before" (see pre-) + coquere "to ripen," literally "to cook" (see cook (n.)). Originally of flowers or fruits. Figurative use, of persons, dates from 1670s. Related: Precociously; precociousness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
precocious in Medicine

precocious

(prĭ-kō′shəs)
adj.
  1. Showing unusually early development or maturity.
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Related formspre•coc′ity (-kŏs′ĭ-tē) null n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
precocious in Science

precocious

[prĭ-kō′shəs]
  1. Relating to or having flowers that blossom before the leaves emerge. Some species of magnolias are precocious.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.