timelyadj.
/ˈtʌɪmli/, U.S. /ˈtaɪmli/ 1.
a. Occurring, done, or made at a fitting, suitable, or favourable time; opportune, well-timed, seasonable.In quot. OE: (of a person) of a fitting or suitable age.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [adjective]
timelyOE
tidefula1300
tidya1375
duea1387
timefula1400
seasonablec1412
convenient1415
opportunec1425
seasonedc1440
tempestivous1574
timed1592
ripe1595
well-timed1604
opportuneful1605
mature1608
advantageous1609
opportunous1609
punctual1611
tempestive1611
timeousa1626
time-serving1627
timed1656
tidive?17..
OE Prudentius Glosses (Boulogne 189) in H. D. Meritt Old Eng. Prudentius Glosses (1959) 98 [Jugali vix] habilem [toro] : timlicne.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 13 (MED) Þe man þe hit meðeð riht þe..haueð riht mel tid and nutteð timeliche metes.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 138 It is to be war of al þing putrefactible, as is..softe froytes horarij, i. tymely.
a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) viii. 52 Though tymely deth hath ben to sloo.
1596 Z. Jones tr. M. Barleti Hist. G. Castriot vi. 249 [They] did send their Ambassadours into Epyre, with timely and necessarie succours of great summes of money.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. iii. 7 Now spurres the lated Traueller apace, To gayne the timely Inne. View more context for this quotation
1655 Theophania v. 144 A timely assistance was sent to those Ladies that yet hung strugling about the skiff.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) xviii. iv He..sent the timely Rescue down.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin xliii Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And loved a timely joke.
1849 Times 24 May 4/3 Timely and extensive concessions to the demands of the people..are the only securities against the inroads of a revolution.
1890 Spectator 31 May 763/2 With the general drift of his essay we heartily agree, and think it both wise and timely.
1926 Amer. Mercury Mar. p. i (advt.) A timely and thought-provoking volume.
1959 New Statesman 21 Nov. 693/3 Mr Krushchev's announcement..is a timely reminder of the risks of delay.
1967 D. L. Thomas Plungers & Peacocks iii. 38 The Gould clique hoped that Grant's reserve on this occasion would be melted by a timely shot of bourbon.
2007 New Yorker 27 Aug. 84/1 This is a timely book, reminding us of the good things that the United States has achieved within living memory.
b. Occurring or appearing early in the day, season, year, etc.; spec. †(of a plant, crop, fruit, etc.) producing fruit or flowers early in the season; flowering or ripening early (obsolete). Cf. early adj. 3. rare after 17th cent.Now only as merged into sense 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [adjective] > early or quick
hiefulc1230
timelya1382
timefulc1384
soona1400
mature1600
verty1804
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Jer. v. 24 Oure God, that ȝyueth to vs tymeli rein.
c1450 J. Lydgate Dietary (Sloane) 43 in Anglia (1918) 42 187 Be tymely at masse; þe better þou shalt cheve.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 327/2 Tymely, temprif.
1568 T. Hill Proffitable Arte Gardening (rev. ed.) ii. xxviii. f. 98 To haue timely Roses.
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xv. 267 The timeliest fruite often commeth to least proofe.
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. D3 A crop of toward youth, so well eared, that they put vs in hope alreadie of a timely haruest.
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales ii. ii. 34 Short sommers, and timely winters.
1600 E. B. in Englands Helicon sig. Bivv And made the rathe and timely Primrose grow.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus (i. 6) 405 It filled Paul with ioy to remember Tymothies timely faith.
1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick iii. viii. 77 Cucumbers to hasten their fruit... The very same roots the year following will bring forth very timely fruit, even before others that were most seasonably sown.
1835 R. Mant Brit. Months 297 Bright June mature in timely hour The seeds of August's early flower!
c. Of an action or circumstance: done or occurring sufficiently early or in good time; prompt.
ΚΠ
1667 A. Marvell Let. 14 Nov. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 60 If any thing be particularly in your prospects,..you will do well to give us timely advice.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 406 If a timely stop were not put to the progress.
1746 E. Purefoy Let. 11 Jan. (1931) II. ix. 230 Had I had timely notice I would have chused to have had her shod before.
1828 Rep. Commissioners Courts of Justice (Ireland) 161 in Parl. Papers XII. 144 Prosecutions are retarded or frustrated by the neglect of the timely return of recognizances of bail.
1880 Globe (Atchison, Kansas) 29 Mar. Taylor Smith..has long been in dread of a certain event of which his wife had given him timely notice. Months before the expected arrival of his expected heir, he could not sleep.
1957 Stud. Philol. 54 548 Promptness was so highly regarded that editors resorted to catalogues..and even news of work in progress as evidence of timely reporting.
2001 Jrnl. Infectious Dis. 184 741/1 Since there is a time limit for TMA-15 to be effective, timely diagnosis and subsequent early administration will be imperative.
2. Of, relating to, or existing in time, as opposed to eternity; temporal; earthly, worldly; (in later use) spec. temporary, transient.Much less common than sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > unspirituality > [adjective]
worldlyOE
dryc1175
fleshlyc1175
of the world?c1225
secularc1290
timely1340
of hencec1384
uttermore1395
worldisha1400
profane1474
humanc1475
mundanec1475
mundial1499
carnal?1510
seculary1520
unghostly1526
worldly-minded1528
sensual1529
earthly-minded1535
civil1536
subcelestial1561
worldly-witted1563
secular-minded1597
ghostlessa1603
lay1609
mundal1614
non-ecclesiastical1630
unspiritual1643
wilderness1651
worldly-handed1657
outward1674
timesome1674
apsychical1678
secularized1683
hylastic1684
choical1708
Sadducee1746
gay1798
unspiritualized1816
secularizing1825
unreligious1832
secularistic1862
apneumatic1864
Sadduceeic1875
this-worldly1883
this world1889
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 209 We habbeþ niede..of gostliche guodes and of timliche guodes.
c1400 in T. F. Simmons Lay Folks Mass Bk. (1879) 123 Þat he absteyne hym from alle þingis tymely þat myȝtte fylen his soule.
1604 in W. M. Metcalfe Charters & Documents Burgh of Paisley (1902) 269 To be apprehendit..drinkand, vagand, or doand ony timelie turns upon the Sabboth.
a1631 J. Donne Ess. Divinity (1651) 30 Saying, that after John's eternal Beginning, & before Moses's timely beginning, Christ had his beginning.
1846 Relig. Souvenir 281 The brotherly interest which I so warmly take in your timely and eternal welfare.
1884 J. W. Reynolds Myst. Universe vi. 188 The origin of all timely things is rooted in the Eternal.
1900 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 235/1 What we want..is, not the timely thing with the eternal touch, but the timely thing with the timely touch.
1999 P. Mourdoukoutas Collective Entrepreneurship in Globalizing Econ. vii. 130 Entrepreneurial networks have their own limitations and boundaries that make them timely rather than eternal institutions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > particular time > [adjective] > of the time of day
timely1590
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. C8v A Diall told the timely howres.
1598 R. Carew Herrings Tayle sig. B2v With true measur'd crowing, the timely houres to speake.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > proportion of notes or rhythm > [adjective] > keeping time
timely1590
timeful1838
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. 3 And many Bardes, that to the trembling chord, Can tune their timely voices cunningly.
1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days I. ix. 184 There beat the timely feet in graceful dance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
timelyadv.
/ˈtʌɪmli/, U.S. /ˈtaɪmli/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb] > quickly or promptly
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
radlyOE
yareOE
timelyOE
belivec1175
belivesc1275
hastivelyc1300
prestc1300
smartc1300
smartlyc1300
prestly1340
spacklya1350
pertlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
yeplya1375
readilyc1390
yarelya1400–50
hasty?a1425
promptly1490
hastyfullyc1500
snackly1728
snack1739
snaply1768
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1835
pronto1892
quick smart1955
snappily1981
OE Wulfstan Institutes of Polity: Duties of Bishops (Nero) (1959) 267 Ðonne is þære bote timlice micel þearf.
OE Ælfric Let. to Sigeweard (De Veteri et Novo Test.) (Laud) 16 Ic þe ne getiðode ealles swa timlice, ær ðam þe þu mid weorcum þæs gewilnodest æt me.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 61 (MED) He ase timliche as he hefde iherd þis biȝet et te keiser þet he ȝette him al þet he walde.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) 762 (MED) Bute ȝef þu þe timluker [L. maturius] do þe i þe ȝeinturn..ic schal schawin hu mi sweort bite i þi swire.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 15659 Penda..seide þat he wolde sahtnesse wurche. and timliche him speken wið.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 5188 (MED) Kent hii wonne timeliche..Estsex & souþsex..Hii wonne ar hii come aȝen.
1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 42 (MED) He schal be so tymelich vesited & holpen þat he ne schal nouȝt, for defaute of help, be brouȝt to nouȝt.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 8876 Wiþ ax he walde haue kut hit þan; al to timely [Vesp. rath] he be-gan.
1467 T. Howes in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 567 Seruantys..wayted dayly and tymely vppon his persone.
c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 82 (MED) Every man bring and put forthe of his goodes after that his power is. Now in the worship of God let this be timelie done.
2. Sufficiently early, in good time; (now chiefly U.S. Law) by a fixed time or deadline. rare before 17th cent.In early use usually with reference to the repentance of sins.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [adverb] > at the proper time or in due course
timelya1225
in good timec1325
by revolutionc1425
dulya1513
accordingly1555
due-timely1606
fitly1611
fit, due, proper, just season1686
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 25 Ȝet ic mei longe libben and alle mine sunne timliche ibeten.
c1410 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Harl. 7334) (1885) §1066 He may as him semith tymely ynough come to schrifte.
1592 A. Willet Synopsis Papismi 477 Him that commeth not timelie to the howers of praier.
1614 in L. B. Taylor Aberdeen Council Lett. (1942) I. 127 To persew that actioun timlie before the lords of sessioun.
1651 Bp. J. Taylor Rule of Holy Dying (1727) v. §5 221 Our timely-repented and often forsaken habits of sin.
1744 W. Ellis Timber-tree Improved V. ii. iv. 69 The Lask [sc. a disease of bees]..indangers whole Stocks, if a Remedy be not timely adhibited.
1789 W. H. Brown Power of Sympathy II. xl. 73 The progress of female luxury, however slow it may appear, unless timely checked, works with infallible and destructive advances.
1840 T. Curry Rep. Supreme Court Louisiana 14 204 The affiant..trusted that he would have had the transcript brought up, and timely filed.
1866 A. C. Garratt Med. Electr. (ed. 3) xii. 1006 It is very apt to be serious and permanent in its results, if not timely diagnosed and correctly treated.
1913 Kentucky Med. Jrnl. 1 Apr. 280/2 If recognized early their relief is so simple that the therapeutic problem is nil, but when not timely diagnosed the most skillful may not be able to stem the tide of danger.
1945 Veteran Law Man. 45 The spouse and the member would be entitled to file a joint return for such taxable year if an election to file a joint return is timely made.
2008 W. Sabo Legal Guide to AIA Documents (ed. 5) iv. 541 (note) In Des Moines Asphalt & Paving Co. v. Colcon Indus. Corp., 500 N.W.2d 70 (Iowa 1993), the owner timely filed for arbitration.
3. Early in the morning, day, season, etc.; (also) early with respect to a natural or anticipated time. Now rare except as overlapping with sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [adverb] > early or in good time
soon?a1366
timelyc1390
in good timea1440
in good hour1603
timelily1608
in due hour1689
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 415 (MED) Þe kyng..Comaundes hem to meeten him tymely on þe morwen.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 3163 As tymliche as I may, Fulofte whanne it is brod day.
?1455–6 J. Fastolf in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 124 I had lever ye were at London a weke the rather and tym elyer [read tymelyer] then a weke to late.
a1500 Walter of Henley's Husbandry (Sloane) (1890) 47 Sowe your wyntur corne tymely so þt your lande may be sadid & your corne rotyd afore þt grete wyntur com.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxiv. 14 Tymely in the mornynge do they aryse, to murthur the symple and poore.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iii. i. 314 The Aristolochias do flowre..timelier in hoate Countries.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 26 Gif in a schip, tymlie in the morning ȝe passe by the craig.
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 5 The Spring visiteth not these quarters so timely, as the Eastern parts.
1680 O. Heywood Autobiogr., Diaries (1881) II. 299 Came home pretty timely of the day.
1716 S. Sewall Diary 5 Oct. (1973) II. 834 Got up so timely, that the Commissions were read by 11. mane.
1759 Mod. Part Universal Hist. V. xix. 234 His enemies..hearing of his intention, fled; yet not so timely but the Hormûzians made a great slaughter of their troops.
1827 J. Keble Christian Year I. i. 2 Oh! timely happy, timely wise, Hearts that with rising morn arise!
1902 Methodist Mag. Oct. 362/2 He spake truly, for grief had made him timely wise.
4. † b. At the proper or natural time; not prematurely. Cf. untimely adv. 2 Obsolete.
a. At a fitting, suitable, or favourable time; in a well-timed manner; opportunely, seasonably.In recent use usually as overlapping with sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [adverb] > in time or soon enough
time enoughc1400
in timea1450
timely1552
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Tymely or in dew season, as nother to tymely nor to late.
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 63 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) To suffer an evill to grow up, which he might timely have kept under.
a1625 J. Fletcher Island Princesse v. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ppp2/2 A vertuous point of gratitude, Timely and nobly taken.
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. ii. §8. 469/1 Ruffinus..sought to betray him to the Goths, but was timely discovered to his ruine.
1715 N. Dubois & G. Leoni tr. A. Palladio Architecture I. i. 2 All requisite materials timely provided.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I II. x. 247 Buckingham had timely perished to be saved from the reproach of one more political crime.
1842 T. Arnold Hist. Rome II. 208 The attempt of L. Fulvius to surprise Rome..was timely baffled.
1900 Friend 22 Sept. 75/3 We think that from its history certain very notable impressions or influences occur timely for Friends at the present day.
1986 European Sociol. Rev. 2 15/2 They seemed..to move the Socialists slightly, but timely, to the Right.
2008 M. Frazer Apostate's Tale xii. 118 Thank you, Tom, thank you, Luce, for bringing it. It came timely.
ΚΠ
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iii. ii. 161 Oft haue I seene a timely parted ghost, Of ashie semblance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.OEadv.OE