full-grown
UK[ˌfʊl ˈɡrəʊn]US[ˌfʊl ˈɡroʊn]
adj
Having reached full natural growth or development; mature.
Morpheme Breakdown
full
grown
full
complete
grown
developed
Etymology
The compound adjective "full-grown" is a transparent combination of two native English elements. "Full," with Proto-Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European roots related to plenitude, intensifies the state described by "grown," the past participle of "grow." "Grow" itself originates from a Proto-Germanic verb meaning "to green, flourish," a sense tied to plant life. The logic of the word is direct and literal: it describes an organism (now extended to ideas or projects) that has completed its process of growth, having reached its mature or final size and development.
Analysis
Structure: full (complete) + grown (developed)
- full: From Old English full, meaning "complete, entire." It functions as an intensifier in this compound, indicating completeness.
- grown: The past participle of the verb grow, from Old English grōwan, meaning "to flourish, increase, develop." It functions as the core element describing the state of development.
Examples
The farmer only sells meat from full-grown cattle.
It takes several years for a sapling to become a full-grown oak tree.
Her ambition had developed into a full-grown plan.