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Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.

To think on, and revolve in the mind, beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate robbery. With words premeditated thus he said. Dryden.

The act of meditating or contriving beforehand; previous deliberation; forethought.

To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi

To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to be before something else; to employ previously. [Obs.] The premised flames of the last day. Shak. If venesection and a cathartic be premised. E. Darwin.

A reward or recompense; a prize to be won by being before another, or others, in a competition; reward or prize to be adjudged; a bounty; as, a premium for good behavior or scholarship, for discoveries, etc. To think it not the necessity, but the premium and privilege of life, to eat and sleep without any regard to glo…

To forewarn; to admonish beforehand. [R.] Herrick. To teach, and to premonish. Bk. of Com. Prayer.

To show beforehand; to foreshow. [R.] Herbert.

A showing beforehand; foreshowing.

Relating to the time before Moses; as, premosaic history.

To fortify beforehand; to guard against objection. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Being or happening before birth.

The power or right of taking a thing before it is offered. Burrill.

Forenamed; named beforehand. [R.] "Prenominate crimes." Shak.

To note or designate beforehand. Foxe.

The act of announcing or proclaiming beforehand. [Obs.]

Announcing beforehand; presaging. [Obs.] Blount.

To obtain beforehand.

The act or right of taking possession before another; as, the preoccupancy of wild land.

To anticipate; to take before. [Obs.] "Fear preoccupateth it [death]." Bacon.