precocious
UK: /prɪˈkəʊʃəs/ | US: /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/
adj. (of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than usual
adj. (of behavior or ability) indicative of early maturity or advanced development
precocious = pre<before> + coc<ripen> + ious<adjective suffix>
- pre: From Latin prae-, meaning "before."
- coc: From Latin coquere (past participle coctus), meaning "to ripen" or "to cook."
- ious: A suffix forming adjectives, often indicating a quality or state.
Etymology Origin:
The word "precocious" originates from the Latin praecox (genitive praecocis), combining prae- ("before") and coquere ("to ripen"). It originally described fruit ripening early, later metaphorically extended to children or abilities developing ahead of the norm. The shift from literal ripeness to intellectual or emotional maturity reflects the word's vivid agricultural roots.
The precocious child was reading novels by age five.
Her precocious talent for mathematics amazed her teachers.
Despite his precocious wit, he struggled socially with peers.
The garden's precocious blooms appeared weeks before spring.
Critics praised the film for its precocious insight into human nature.