different between decorous vs timely

English

Etymology

From Latin dec?rus (“seemly, becoming”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?k???s/

Adjective

decorous (comparative more decorous, superlative most decorous)

1. Marked by proper behavior.
   • 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft, chapter V, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 3rd edition, London: J. Jonson, published 1796, section III, pages 219–220:

     The narrow path of truth and virtue inclines neither to the right nor left—it is a ?traightforward bu?ine?s, and they who are earne?tly pur?uing their road, may bound over many decorous prejudices, without leaving mode?ty behind.

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 61,^[1]

     There came a day when the round of decorous pleasures and solemn gaieties in which Mr. Jos Sedley’s family indulged was interrupted by an event which happens in most houses.

   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 43

     But who can fathom the subtleties of the human heart? Certainly not those who expect from it only decorous sentiments and normal emotions.

   • 1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, Part One, Chapter 1^[2]

     The green eyes in the carefully sweet face were turbulent, willful, lusty with life, distinctly at variance with her decorous demeanor.

Antonyms

• indecorous

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English timely, tymely, timliche, from Old English *t?ml?c (adj) and t?ml??e (“in good time; timely; soon”, adverb), equivalent to time +? -ly. Cognate with Danish timelig, Swedish timlig, Icelandic tímalegur, tímanlegur.

Pronunciation

• enPR: t?m?l?, IPA^(key): /?ta?mli/

Adjective

timely (comparative timelier, superlative timeliest)

1. Done at the proper time or within the proper time limits; prompt.

   Synonyms: on time, well-timed; see also Thesaurus:punctual

   Antonyms: ill-timed, late; see also Thesaurus:overdue
2. Happening or appearing at the proper time.

   Synonyms: opportune, seasonable; see also Thesaurus:timely

   Antonyms: inopportune, unseasonable; see also Thesaurus:untimely
3. (obsolete) Keeping time or measure.

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

timely (comparative more timely, superlative most timely)

1. (archaic) In good time; early, quickly.
   • 2000, George RR Martin, A Storm of Swords, Bantam 2011, p. 587:

     ‘If I had been born more timely, he said, Rhaegar would have married me instead of Elia, and it would all have come out different.’

2. (obsolete) At the right time; seasonably.
3. (law) In compliance with applicable time limits.
   • 1998, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, US v. Merino-Balderrama:

     On May 14, 1997, the jury convicted the defendant, who currently is serving a fifteen-month sentence. The defendant timely appeals.

   • 2003, United States Supreme Court, Clay v. United States:

     […] § 2255's one-year limitation period starts to run when the time for seeking such review expires. Under this rule, Clay's § 2255 petition was timely filed.

See also

• seasonably
• tidely

Middle English

Adverb

timely

1. Alternative form of tymely