mātūrus, a, um (sup. usually maturissimus; less freq. maturrimus, Tac. A. 12, 65; cf. the adv.), adj. [root, Sanscr. ma-, measure, time, whence mane, matutinus; cf.: manus, modus; hence, timely, ready in time], ripe, mature (class.).
I Lit., of fruits: poma matura et cocta (opp. cruda), Cic. Sen. 19, 71: uva, Verg. E. 10, 36: fruges, id. ib. 3, 80: maturissimae ficus, Col. 12, 17, 2.—With dat.: seges matura messi, ripe for harvesting , Liv. 2, 5.— Neutr. as subst.: quod maturi erat (opp. viride), Liv. 34, 26, 8. —
II Transf.
A Ripe, mature, of the proper age, proper, fit, seasonable, timely , etc.—With dat.: filia matura viro, ripe for marriage, marriageable , Verg. A. 7, 53: maturus bello, Juv. 8, 169: vitulus templis maturus et arae, old enough for sacrifice , id. 12, 7: virgo, Hor. C. 3, 6, 22: ovis, fit for bearing , Col. 7, 3, 1: Roxane matura ex Alexandro, Just. 13, 2, 5; cf. venter, ripe for delivery, ready to bring forth , Ov. M. 11, 311: infans, id. ib. 7, 127: aetas, mature, fit for action , Verg. A. 12, 438: progenies matura militiae, Liv. 42, 52: L. Caesar viris, of the proper age for assuming the toga virilis, Vell. 2, 99.— Piur. subst. : mātūri , adults (opp. pueri), Lact. 5, 13, 3: omnia matura sunt, victoria, praeda, laus, ready to be seized , Sall. J. 85, 48.—With ad : ad arma, Sil. 16, 657.—Of mental qualities: ipse enim Thucydides, si posterius fuisset, multo maturior ac mitior fuisset, Cic. Brut. 83, 288: annis gravis atque animi maturus Aletes, mature in judgment , Verg. A. 9, 246: aevi, ripe in years , id. ib. 5, 73: centuriones, who had served out their time , Suet. Calig. 44: imperia, old, antiquated , Just. 11, 5, 7: scribendi tempus maturius, more seasonable, more favorable , Cic. Att. 15, 4, 3: mihi vero ad nonas bene maturum videtur fore, just at the right time , id. Fam. 9, 5, 1: se maturam oppetere mortem, in good old age , id. Div. 1, 18, 36: senex, Hor. A. P. 115.—
2 Powerful, vigorous : glaebasque jacentis Pulverolenter coquat maturis solibus aestas, Verg. G. 1, 66: lux, id. A. 10, 257: ignes (anni), Grat. Cyn. 59: maturae mala nequitiae, full-grown depravity , Juv. 14, 216.—
B That takes place early, early, speedy, quick : mittam hodie huic suo die natali malam rem magnam et maturam, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 5: matura faba, the early bean (opp. to the late bean), Col. 2, 10: satio (opp. to late sowing), id. ib.: fenum, the first hay (opp. to the after-math), id. 7, 3: hiemes, early , Caes. B. G. 4, 20: decessio, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 1: honores, Ov. P. 2, 1, 59: judicium, quick , Cic. Caecin. 3, 7: robur aetatis quam maturrimum precari, Tac. A. 12, 65: aetas maturissima, early life , Auct. Her. 4, 17, 25: si mora pro culpa est, ego sum maturior illo, was there earlier , Ov. M. 13, 300.—Hence, adv.: mātūrē ( sup. maturissime and maturrime; v. the foll.).
A Seasonably, opportunely, at the proper time (class.): custodes mature sentiunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 96: satis mature occurrit, Caes. B. C. 3, 7: ubi consulueris, mature facto opus est, Sall. C. 1 fin. —
B Betimes, early, speedily, quickly, soon : mature fieri senem, Cic. Sen. 10, 32: proficisci, id. Fam. 3, 3, 1: Romam venire, id. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 4.— Comp. : maturius proficiscitur, Caes. B. G. 4, 6: maturius pervenire, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 24, § 60: tempus quam res maturius me deserat, Sall. J. 42, 5: maturius ad Epulas ire, Juv. 11, 88: voluerunt veteres maturius hereditates adiri, Gai. Inst. 2, 55.— Sup. : maximos tumultus maturissime disjeci, Cato ap. Charis. p. 184 P.: res maturissime vindicanda est, as quickly, as early as possible , Cic. Caecin. 2, 7: quippe qui omnium maturrime ad publicas causas accesserim, id. de Or. 3, 20, 74: perge qua coeptas, ut quam maturrime merita invenias, Sall. H. 1, 48, 16 Dietsch.: quibus rebus quam maturrime occurrendum putabat, Caes. B. G. 1, 33 fin. —
C Prematurely, untimely : pater mature decessit, Nep. Att. 2, 1.—With a play upon the three meanings of the word (A., B., and C.): qui homo mature quaesivit pecuniam, Nisi eam mature parsit, mature esurit, he who has made money at the right time, if he is not soon sparing of it, will too soon suffer hunger , Plaut. Curc. 3, 10.