Pre*lud"er (?), n. One who, or that which, preludes; one who plays a
prelude. Mason.
Pre*lud"i*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prelude; of the nature of a
prelude; introductory. [R.]
Pre*lud"i*ous (?), a. Preludial. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Pre*lum"bar (?), a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front of the loins;
-- applied to the dorsal part of the abdomen.
Pre*lu"sive (?), a. [See Prelude.] Of the nature of a prelude;
introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow.
"Prelusive drops." Thomson. --Pre*lu"sive*ly, adv.
Pre*lu"so*ri*ly (?), adv. In a prelusory way.
Pre*lu"so*ry (?), a. Introductory; prelusive. Bacon.
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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.