Word of the Day 4.1.09
precocious
pre·co·cious (pr
-k
sh
s)
adj.
1. Manifesting or characterized by unusually early development or maturity, especially in mental aptitude.
2. Botany Blossoming before the appearance of leaves.
[From Latin praecox, praecoc-, premature, from praecoquere, to boil before, ripen early : prae-, pre- + coquere, to cook, ripen; see pekw- in Indo-European roots.]
pre·cocious·ly adv.
pre·cocity (-k
s-t
), pre·cocious·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Adj. | 1. | precocious – characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude); “a precocious child”; “a precocious achievement”
intelligent – having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree; “is there intelligent life in the universe?”; “an intelligent question”
retarded – relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development; “providing a secure and sometimes happy life for the retarded”
|
| 2. | precocious – appearing or developing early; “precocious flowers appear before the leaves as in some species of magnolias”
early – being or occurring at an early stage of development; “in an early stage”; “early forms of life”; “early man”; “an early computer”
|