Library / English Dictionary

PREMATURELY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Too soon; in a premature manner

Example:

I spoke prematurely

Synonyms:

prematurely; untimely

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

premature (uncommonly early or before the expected time)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation

Example:

the child was born prematurely

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

premature (born after a gestation period of less than the normal time)

Credits

 Context examples: 

European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention state that people who are isolated or disconnected from others are at increased risk of developing and dying prematurely from coronary artery disease.

(Loneliness Is Bad for Heart, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

We pulled easily, by Silver's directions, not to weary the hands prematurely, and after quite a long passage, landed at the mouth of the second river—that which runs down a woody cleft of the Spy-glass.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The lock was silver, though tarnished from age; at each end were the imperfect remains of handles also of silver, broken perhaps prematurely by some strange violence; and, on the centre of the lid, was a mysterious cipher, in the same metal.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

A man is in greater danger in the navy of being insulted by the rise of one whose father, his father might have disdained to speak to, and of becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any other line.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

F. nucleatum is ubiquitously found in the normal flora of the oral cavity but may be associated with periodontal disease as well as preterm births, where isolates have been found in amniotic fluid, placenta, and chorioamnionic membranes of women delivering prematurely.

(Fusobacterium nucleatum, NCI Thesaurus)

If I had any doubt of him, I suppose this half awakened it; but I am inclined to believe that with the simple confidence of a child, and the natural reliance of a child upon superior years (qualities I am very sorry any children should prematurely change for worldly wisdom), I had no serious mistrust of him on the whole, even then.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Then will come the greatest criminal trial of the century, the clearing up of over forty mysteries, and the rope for all of them; but if we move at all prematurely, you understand, they may slip out of our hands even at the last moment.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Standing on the rug between us, with his slight, tall figure, his sharp features, thoughtful face, and curling hair prematurely tinged with grey, he seemed to represent that not too common type, a nobleman who is in truth noble.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)