Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE-MA-TURE', a. [Fr. prématuré, from L. præmaturus; præ, 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.