mature

Pronunciation

• IPA: /məˈtjʊə/ (UK); /məˈt͡ʃʊ(ə)ɹ/, /məˈt͡ʃɝ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English, borrowed from Latin mātūrus (“ripe, timely, early”),^[2][3][4] partly through French mature;^[2] the verb is from mātūrāre (“to ripen”).^[2][3] The Latin word is related to māne (“early, in the morning”) and perhaps to mānus (“good”).^[3][5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a verb, to promote suppuration, bring to a head: 1392 in Barnhart, about 1400 in Etymonline.^[2][3] As an adjective, ripe or full-grown: probably 1440, in a translation of Palladius on husbandry,^[2] and of deliberation, careful and well considered, 1454, the earliest use in the OED.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

Of plants, to cause to ripen, is from the mid-15th century, and the intransitive sense, to become ripe, from the 1650s.^[3] Of persons, having fully developed powers of body and mind, the adjective is from about 1600.^[3][6] The financial sense of a bill or bond becoming due is by 1861.^[3] A mature student, an adult studying later than usual, is from 1924,^[6] and mature as a euphemism for older than usual by 1953.^[3] The use for films or books intended for adults is recent.^[7]

Timeline

• 1392 – to ripen, bring to a head.^[2]
• 1440 – ripe, full-grown.^[2]
• 1454 – well considered.^[6][2]
• c. 1600 – of persons, fully developed.^[3][6]
• 1861 – of a bill, to become due.^[3]
• 1924 – mature student.^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Fully grown or developed; adult.
2. Having the mental and emotional qualities of an adult; sensible.
3. Of fruit, wine or cheese, ripe or fully aged.
4. Carefully thought out: on mature reflection.
5. Due for payment.
6. Intended for adults, especially because of sexual or violent content.

Verb

1. To bring or come to full development; to ripen.
2. Of a bond or policy, to become due for payment.

Word family

• maturely
• matureness
• maturement
• maturer
• nonmature
• overmature
• premature
• semimature

Related words

• maturity
• maturation
• immature
• matins

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin