precocious

adj

Etymology: From Latin praecox (“premature, precocious, ripe before time, early ripe”), from praecoquō (“to ripen beforehand, ripen fully, also boil beforehand”), from prae (“before”) + coquō (“to cook, boil, ripen”). Doublet of apricot.

1. Characterized by exceptionally early development or maturity.

   “The precocious plant was already blooming flowers by day 4.”

   “Now those abominations whom you call precocious boys—your little pet monsters, doctor!—and who can wonder that the world is what it is? when it is full of them—as they will have no divine time to look back upon in their own lives, how can they believe in innocence and goodness, or be other than sons of selfishness and the Devil?”

2. Exhibiting advanced skills and aptitudes at an abnormally early age.

   “The precocious child began reading the newspaper at age four.”

   “Mary: Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious / If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious.”