precocity

[ pri-kos-i-tee ]

noun

1. the state of being or tendency to be precocious.

Word History and Origins

Origin of precocity¹

1630–40; < French précosité, equivalent to précose (< Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox early ripening, adj. derivative of praecoquere to bake or ripen early; pre-, cook ¹ ) + -ité -ity

Example Sentences

“Such precocity, such regularity, is rare, almost unique. He’s someone who, if he is not injured, can manage to score between 45 and 55 goals each year, for years to come.”

From Washington Times

Youthful precocity is a given in Anderson’s movies, as are the stirrings of young love.

From Los Angeles Times

On the contrary: He reveled in precocity, cheekiness, iconoclasm and snark.

From New York Times

On the 21st of April, only a third of the way through spring, our 88 degrees may have seemed thermal precocity, an unsought rush to summer.

From Washington Post

A solo Emily shines — and sounds remarkably like her mother — on a poignant ballad she wrote herself, “When I Miss You Most,” though much of the record relies a bit too much on Sasha’s precocity.

From New York Times

Related Words

• ability
• accomplishment
• acumen
• aptitude
• brilliance
• flair
• imagination
• ingenuity
• inspiration
• intelligence
• inventiveness
• originality
• prodigy
• prowess
• talent
• wisdom