different between early vs betimes

English

Etymology

From Middle English erly, erli, from Old English ?rl??e, ?rl??e (“early; early in the morning”), equivalent to ere +? -ly. Cognate with Old Norse árla ( > Danish and Norwegian årle, Swedish arla, Faroese árla). Compare also West Frisian earen (“early”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??li/, enPR: ûr?l?
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???.li/, enPR: ûr?l?
• Rhymes: -??(?)li
• Hyphenation: ear?ly
• Homophone: Earley

Adjective

early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)

1. At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

2. Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.

3. Near the start or beginning.

4. Having begun to occur; in its early stages.

5. (astronomy) Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.

   Antonym: late

Synonyms

• (at a time in advance of the usual): premature
• (near the start): first

Antonyms

• (at a time in advance of the usual): late
• (illness: having begun to occur): terminal

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Adverb

early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)

1. At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

2. Soon; in good time; seasonably.

   • Those that seek me early shall find me.

   • ?, Alfred Tennyson, The May Queen

     You must wake and call me early.

Synonyms

• prematurely

Antonyms

• late, tardily

Translations

Noun

early (plural earlies)

1. (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

Antonyms

• late

Anagrams

• Arely, Arley, Layer, Leary, Raley, Rayle, layer, leary, re-lay, relay

English

Etymology

From Middle English bitimes, from bi (“by”) + time + adverbial -s. Equivalent to by +? time +? -s, or betime +? -s. More at betime. Compare also betides.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /b??ta?mz /, /b??ta?mz/
• Rhymes: -a?mz

Adverb

betimes (not comparable)

1. (dated) In good season or time; early, especially in the morning; seasonably.
   • 1886-88, Richard F. Burton, The Supplemental Nights to the Thousand Nights and a Night:

     They slept well that night and betimes next morning the mother of Alaeddin arose and went with her bowl to the King's court which she found closed.

   • 1896, A. E. Housman, "To An Athlete Dying Young," in A Shropshire Lad:

     Smart lad to slip betimes away

     From fields where glory does not stay.

   • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 786:

     However they dined very early, for the winter dusk fell betimes at this season [...].

2. (archaic) In a short time, soon; quickly, forthwith.
   • 1898, The High History of the Holy Graal, translated by Sebastian Evans, Branch IX, Title II:

     [O]ne prayed God right heartily aloud that He would send them betimes a knight that durst convoy them through this strait pass.

   • 1839, Doctrine and Covenants 121:43^[1]:

     Reproving betimes with sharpness...and afterward showing forth an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved […]

Translations