prematurely, adv.
[f. premature + -ly2.]
a. In a premature manner; before the proper time; too soon, too hastily.
| 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 189 When Nurses prematurely, and without regard, commit weaker Infants to their Feet. 1748 Hartley Observ. Man ii. ii. 136 Man's Wisdom..would have rushed forward upon it prematurely. 1841 D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 367 Ascham..died prematurely. 1873 Black Pr. Thule ii, His hair was becoming prematurely grey. 1878 R. W. Dale Lect. Preach. ii. 39 Taking care not to exhaust the interest of your audience prematurely. |
b. spec. in Obstetrics.
| 1812 Medico-Chirug. Trans. III. 137, I have however now before me, a list of seventy-eight labours occurring prematurely, either from the spontaneous action of the womb, or from accidental violence. 1902 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 17 May 1197/2 The dry mouth and the weak digestion, and the frequency of gastro-intestinal disorders in the prematurely born are matters of every-day observation. 1943 Lancet 9 Dec. 320/1 An infant, prematurely born, is, although in a normal stage of development, inadequately prepared to contend against the operation of external agents. |