precocious
precocious
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "precocious" is: /pɹəˈkəʊʃəs/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
pre /pɹə/
/pɹ/ - voiceless bilabial fricative (similar to "p" but with more friction)
/ə/ - schwa (a central vowel sound)
co /ˈkəʊ/ (stressed syllable)
/ˈ/ - primary stress
/k/ - voiceless velar plosive (like "k" in "key")
/ə/ - schwa (a central vowel sound)
/ʊ/ - close back rounded vowel (like "oo" in "boot")
cious /ʃəs/
/ʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar fricative (like "sh" in "ship")
/ə/ - schwa (a central vowel sound)
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (like "s" in "sip")
Word Form Variations
"Precocious" itself doesn't have variations based on singular or plural. It functions as an adjective describing something, and adjectives don't change form based on number (singular or plural).
However, there are related word forms derived from "precocious":
Adverb: Precociously (describes how something happens in a precocious manner)
Noun: Precocity (the state of being precocious)
Negative adjective: Unprecocious (the opposite of precocious, meaning not showing advanced development)
These variations can be used to create different sentence structures depending on what you want to convey.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition:
Showing advanced mental development, understanding, or ability at an unusually early age. (e.g., The precocious child could solve complex math problems by the age of five.)
Synonyms: Advanced, gifted, bright, ahead of their time, sharp, quick-witted
Antonyms: Immature, underdeveloped, slow-learning, behind schedule
Derivation:
Noun: Precocity (the state of being precocious)
Adverb: Precociously (in a precocious manner)
Note: While "precocious" can be used less commonly to describe something that develops physically early (e.g., precocious puberty), the more usual sense is related to mental abilities.
Examples of Use
Literature:
"At the age of five, Jane was already a precocious reader, devouring classic novels far beyond her age group." (Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë)
Newspapers:
"A new study reveals that children raised in multilingual households often show precocious language skills." (The New York Times, Science Section)
Online Publications:
"[Gaming platform] is known for attracting a large number of precocious young gamers, some competing at a professional level." (TechCrunch article)
Entertainment Mediums:
Movie: "The film explores the challenges faced by a precocious child chess prodigy struggling with the pressure of expectation." (Review of a biographical drama)
TV Show: "In this episode of the talent show, a precocious young musician wows the judges with their virtuosity." (Reality TV show description)
General Public Discourse:
"My niece is such a precocious child, always asking insightful questions and eager to learn new things." (Conversation between friends)
"The teacher expressed concern about the student's precocious behaviour, suggesting it might be isolating them from their peers." (Parent-teacher conference discussion)
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Precocious
While there aren't necessarily ten widely attributed quotes featuring "precocious," here are some interesting options that showcase the word in different contexts:
"When work and earn money as a child, you need to be confident, but it can make you a bit precocious, and I think I was a bit of a pain for a while when I was young." (Whoopi Goldberg, interview)
"It is, of course, quite natural that a biologist whose attention had been aroused by noticing in his own case the phenomena of precocious old age should turn to study the causes of it." (George Bernard Shaw, playwright and critic)
"I never wanted to be a performer. I suppose I was precocious, really. I started acting when I was about three because my parents were in the business." (Judi Dench, actress)
"Child actors can be a bit precocious, but they can also be incredibly talented and disciplined." (Film director discussing challenges on set)
"[The character] was a precocious young woman with a sharp wit and a thirst for adventure." (Book blurb describing a fictional character)
"The precocious use of technology by young children raises concerns about social development and attention spans." (Educational blog post)
"Art prodigies often display precocious talent, but sustaining a creative career requires dedication and perseverance." (Art critic discussing child artists)
"Some gifted children may feel isolated due to their precociousness, requiring social and emotional support from educators and parents." (Psychology article)
(In a humorous context) "My cat is a bit precocious, always trying to solve puzzles and open doors with its paws." (Social media post)
"While some may view precocious children as arrogant, it's important to nurture their curiosity and provide appropriate challenges." (Parenting website)
Etymology
The word "precocious" comes from an old Roman cooking metaphor! Here's the breakdown:
Pre- comes from Latin and means "before" or "early."
Coquere is a Latin verb that means "to cook" or "to ripen."
Imagine fruit ripening on a tree. Normally, it takes time for the fruit to be ready to pick. But sometimes, a fruit might ripen before it's supposed to. That early-ripening fruit is kind of like a precocious child – their skills or abilities develop ahead of schedule.
The word "precocious" first showed up in English around the 1600s, and originally, it was used literally for plants that flowered or ripened early. But soon, people started using it for people too, especially for kids who seemed way smarter or more talented than others their age.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Precocious
Precocious child: This is the most straightforward and common phrase, referring to a young person with advanced development.
A mind of precocious maturity: This emphasises the intellectual side of precocity, suggesting a child with thoughts and understanding beyond their years.
Precocious talent: This highlights a specific ability that a young person possesses at an unusually early age.
Blooming precociously: This is a more figurative way to say someone is showing early signs of talent or ability. (Blooming refers to a flower opening its petals)
Idioms (not literally meaning what the words say):
Run before you can walk: This idiom implies someone is trying to do something they're not quite ready for, which can connect to the idea of being precocious – advanced but maybe not fully prepared for the challenges.
Burn bright but burn out fast: This idiom suggests that someone with exceptional early talent might struggle to maintain it in the long run. It can be used to describe a concern about the sustainability of precociousness.
While there aren't widely used idioms that directly use "precocious," these related phrases can help express similar ideas.
Posts Related to Precocious
Source Information
Definition of precocious from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.