Part 490

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Pre`ma*ture" (?), a. [L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See Mature.] 1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.

2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.

3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report.

-- Pre`ma*ture"ly, adv. -- Pre`ma*ture"ness, n.

Pre`ma*tu"ri*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈmaturitÈ.] The quality or state of being premature; early, or untimely, ripeness; as, the prematurity of genius.

||Pre"max*il"la (?), n.; pl. PremaxillÊ (#). [NL. See Pre-, and ||Maxilla.] (Anat.) A bone on either side of the middle line between ||the nose and mouth, forming the anterior part of each half of the ||upper jawbone; the intermaxilla. In man the premaxillÊ become united ||and form the incisor part of the maxillary bone.

Pre*max"il*la*ry (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the maxillary bones; pertaining to the premaxillÊ; intermaxillary. -- n. A premaxilla.

Pre*me"di*ate (?), v. t. To advocate. [R.]

Pre*med"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premeditated (-t`t?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Premeditating.] [L. praemeditatus, p. p. of praemeditari; prae before + meditari to meditate. See Meditate.] To think on, and revolve in the mind, beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate robbery.

With words premeditated thus he said.

Dryden.

Pre*med"i*tate, v. i. To think, consider, deliberate, or revolve in the mind, beforehand.

Pre*med"i*tate (?), a. [L. praemeditatus, p. p.] Premeditated; deliberate. [Archaic] Bp. Burnet.

Pre*med"i*tate*ly, adv. With premeditation. Burke.

Pre*med`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praemeditatio: cf. F. prÈmÈditation.] The act of meditating or contriving beforehand; previous deliberation; forethought.

Pre*mer"it (?), v. t. To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi&?;&?;ke.

{ Pre"mi*al (?), Pre"mi*ant (?), } a. [L. praemialis. See Premium.] Serving to reward; rewarding. [R.] Baxter.

Prem"i*ces (?), n. pl. [F. prÈmices, L. primitiae. See Primitia.] First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.

Pre"mi*er (?), a. [F. premier, fr. L. primarius of the first rank, principal, fr. primus the first. See Primary, Prime, a.] 1. First; chief; principal; as, the premier place; premier minister. Camden. Swift.

2. Most ancient; -- said of the peer bearing the oldest title of his degree.

Pre"mi*er (?), n. The first minister of state; the prime minister.

Pre"mi*er*ship, n. The office of the premier.

Pre`mil*len"ni*al (?), a. Previous to the millennium.

Pre"mi*ous (?), a. [L. praemiosus, fr. praemium a premium.] Rich in gifts. [R.] Clarke.

Prem"ise (?), n.; pl. Premises (&?;). [Written also, less properly, premiss.] [F. prÈmisse, fr. L. praemissus, p. p. of praemittere to send before; prae before + mittere to send. See Mission.] 1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a supposition.

The premises observed, Thy will by my performance shall be served.

Shak.