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Webster 1913 Edition


Precocious

Pre-co′cious

,
Adj.
[L.
praecox
,
-ocis
, and
praecoquus
, fr.
praecoquere
to cook or ripen beforehand;
prae
before +
coquere
to cook. See 3d
Cook
, and cf.
Apricot
.]
1.
Ripe or mature before the proper or natural time; early or prematurely ripe or developed;
as,
precocious
trees
.
[R.]
Sir T. Browne.
2.
Developed more than is natural or usual at a given age; exceeding what is to be expected of one’s years; too forward; – used especially of mental forwardness;
as, a
precocious
child;
precocious
talents.

Webster 1828 Edition


Precocious

PRECO'CIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. proecox; proe, before, and coquo, to cook or prepare.]
1.
Ripe before the proper or natural time; as precocious trees.
2.
Premature.