advb. phr. Forms: 3–4 als son(e, 4–5 also sone, alsone, 5 asoune, 5–7 assoone. The two words as soon were commonly written as one from 15th to 18th c., both with, and without, following as; cf. Fr. aussitôt(que. See other instances under ALSOON.
1475[?]. Plumpton Corr., 30. Asoune as they may be gotten.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V., 13. Assone as they myght.
1581. Sidney, Def. Poesie (1622), 510. Assoone as hee might see those beasts well painted.
1760. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Col. Mass. Bay, i. (1765), 58. Assoon as they knew the terms.
Beside the obvious sense (see AS A 3–5, and SOON), Assoon had also the meaning: As soon as might be, immediately, forthwith. (Fr. aussitôt.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 339. He … said wit[h] word, and als son [later als sone, also soone] All his comament was don.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4102. Þus sal ende þe dignité of Rome; And als sone aftir sal anticrist come.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace, lvii. (1842), 50. Alsone his lord he metes.
1585. James I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 23. He stays assone, and in his mynde doeth cast, What way to take.
