precocious

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Quotations 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 See also 1.5 External links

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Latin praecox (“‘premature, precocious, ripe before time, early ripe’”) < praecoquere (“‘to ripen beforehand, ripen fully, also boil beforehead’”) < prae (“‘before’”) + coquere (“‘to cook, boil’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: prĭ-kō'shəs, IPA: /prəˈkəʊʃəs/, SAMPA: /pr@"k@US@s/
• Rhymes: -əʊʃəs

[edit] Adjective

precocious (comparative more precocious, superlative most precocious)

1. Characterized by exceptionally early development or maturity.
2. Exhibiting advanced skills at an abnormally early age.

   The precocious child began reading the newspaper at age four.

[edit] Quotations

• 1964, Sherman Brothers, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, Mary Poppins, Walt Disney

  Mary: Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious / If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• prodigy

[edit] External links

• precocious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• precocious in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• precocious at OneLook® Dictionary Search