precocious [pri-koh -shuh s]
Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for precocious on Thesaurus.com unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc. of or relating to premature development. Botany flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit. bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants. appearing before leaves, as flowers. Show More
Origin of precocious 1640–50; Latin praecoci-, stem of
praecox (see
precocity ) +
-ous Related forms pre·co·cious·ly , adverb pre·co·cious·ness , noun un·pre·co·cious , adjective un·pre·co·cious·ly , adverb un·pre·co·cious·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for precocious intelligent ,
bright ,
cocky ,
mature ,
advanced ,
aggressive ,
beforehand ,
bold ,
brassy ,
cheeky ,
developed ,
early ,
flip ,
flippant ,
forward ,
fresh ,
nervy ,
premature ,
presumptuous ,
pushy Examples from the Web for precocious Contemporary Examples of precocious The children are precocious and cute and the whole thing is freaking adorable.
Do you like him frozen in time as a precocious boy genius doctor with a ridiculous name?
Heightening his angst, Warren pines for precocious Jessica (Gevinson).
The budding relationship between the ornery sexagenarian and the precocious young child ultimately gives the film its momentum.
Precocious even in his private life, Macron does not have children of his own but, at 36, he is a grandfather.
Historical Examples of precocious As for that precocious damsel, she would run no least risk of destruction by the satyr.
Many of our greatest divines have been anything but precocious .
Her mother tried to frighten her; but the child was too precocious .
Of precocious nature, she endured her martyrdom with extraordinary fortitude.
Henry was still in bed, but awake and reading Smiles with precocious gusto.
British Dictionary definitions for precocious ahead in development, such as the mental development of a child botany (of plants, fruit, etc) flowering or ripening early Show More
Derived Forms precociously , adverb precociousness or precocity (prɪˈkɒsɪtɪ ), noun Word Origin for precocious 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
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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
Showing unusually early development or maturity. Show More
Related forms pre•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.
Relating to or having flowers that blossom before the leaves emerge. Some species of magnolias are precocious. Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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