Etymologically
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mature

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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
  • 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