Premies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Infants born significantly before the expected time of pregnancy completion ; premature babies requiring specialized medical care ; newborns arriving early in gestation often needing intensive health support
2. Babies delivered well before the standard gestational period ends ; young children born ahead of schedule with potential health issues ; early-born neonates typically treated in neonatal intensive care units
3. Neonates arriving prematurely prior to full-term development ; early arrivals of infants necessitating medical intervention ; small or underdeveloped newborns born before the usual birth time

Etymology: "Premies" is the plural of "premie," a noun for a baby born earlier than full term. The word is a clipped form of "premature," with the diminutive suffix "-ie" added to the shortened stem "prem-," the same suffix found in words like "sweetie" and "hippie." The formation is simple, but the result is a brisk nickname that neonatal staff and parents use in everyday speech.

Synonyms: premature babies, preemies

Antonyms: full-term babies