hyperadult

English

Etymology

From hyper- +‎ adult.

Adjective

hyperadult (comparative more hyperadult, superlative most hyperadult)

1. Having excessively or inappropriately adult characteristics.
   • 1966, George F. McLean, Christian Philosophy in the College and Seminary, page 76:

     As matters now stand, "programs" too often result in the formation of individuals whose intelligence may be hyperadult, but whose affective and moral sensibility is childish.

   • 1992, Martin Schecter, Two Halves of New Haven, page 157:

     It was slow enough now that I could take a good look at her — I couldn't decide her age, but there seemed to be a youthfulness to her that belied her hyperadult authority.

   • 2009, Christopher Moore, The Lust Lizard Of Melancholy Cove, →ISBN:

     Her students - children living in a hyperadult world where playground disputes were settled with 9 mms - eventually drove her out of teaching.

   • 2018, Lionel Shriver, The Standing Chandelier:

     I mean, most people get off on stuff that goes back to puberty or even earlier, and 'I'm so aroused' sounds so hyperadult.

2. (biology) Exhibiting hypermorphosis; Having features that exaggerate adult morphology.
   • 1993, Charles Devillers, Jean Chaline, Evolution: An Evolving Theory, page 124:

     When sexual maturity is delayed development of the organism may continue over a longer time span. this extension of the growth phase facilitates the formation of a “hyperadult” morphology and a large size, a situation referred to as hypermorphosis.

   • 1999, Barry Bogin, R. A. Foley, C. G. Nicholas Mascie-Taylor, Patterns of Human Growth, →ISBN, page 164:

     Vrba continues by stating that this '. . . can result in a major reorganization - or "shuffling" of body proportions such that some characters become larger and others smaller, some hyperadult and others more juvenilized' (1996, p. 1 ).

   • 2003, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology - Volume 23, Issues 3-4, page 552:

     This suggests a heterochronic event, such as a hypermorphosis (i.e., hyperadult size and shape, McNamara, 1986).

Anagrams

• ultrahyped