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untimely. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
untimely, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
untimely in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
untimely you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle English untymely (also earlier untimliche), equivalent to un- + timely. First attested in the early 13th century.[1][2] Compare Middle Danish utimelig, Old English untídlic (“unreasonable”).[3]
Pronunciation
Adjective
untimely (comparative untimelier or more untimely, superlative untimeliest or most untimely)
- At an inopportune time.
- Synonyms: inopportune; see also Thesaurus:untimely
- Antonyms: timely, opportune, on time, to time; see also Thesaurus:punctual
untimely remarks
- Early; premature.
- Synonyms: early, premature; see also Thesaurus:premature
- Antonyms: late, tardy; see also Thesaurus:overdue
an untimely death
c. 1779–81, Samuel Johnson, “Savage”, in The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, volume 3, published 1794:The heroes of literary as well as civil history have been very often no less remarkable for what they have suffered, than for what they have atchieved; and volumes have been written only to enumerate the miseries of the learned, and relate their unhappy lives, and untimely deaths.
1898, Florence Earle Coates, Before the Hour:Untimely blossom! Poor, impatient thing, / That, starting rashly from the sheltering mould, / Bravest the peevish wind and sullen cold, / Mistaking thine own ardors for the spring
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
taking place at an inopportune time
Translations to be checked
Adverb
untimely (comparative more untimely, superlative most untimely)
- Prematurely.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 151:Tell thee, Macduffe was from his Mothers womb / Untimely ript.
1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 10, page 215:They light fires under fruit trees to keep the fruit from falling untimely.
Translations
References
- ^ “untīmelī, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- ^ “untīmelī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “untimely”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Anagrams