PREMATU'RE, adjective [Latin proematurus; proe, before, and maturus, ripe.] 1. Ripe before the natural or proper time; as the premature fruits of a hot bed. 2. Happening, arriving, performed or adopted before the proper time; as a premature fall of snow in autumn; a premature birth; a premature opinion; a premature measure. 3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as premature report, news or intelligence.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI