adv. Forms: 4 bitimes, -tymes, 4–5 be-, bytymys, 5–6 bytymes, 6 betymes, bytimes, (8–9 by times), 6– betimes. [f. BETIME + advb. genitive -s; cf. beside, besides.]
1. At an early time, period or season; early in the year; early in life.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 1212. Al bi times þou miȝt wende; Ȝete no hastow ben here a moneþ to þende.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 208. The flowers of the first kinde, do shewe bytimes, as in Marche or before.
1611. Bible, Prov. xiii. 24. He that loueth him, chasteneth him betimes.
1791. J. Wilson, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), IV. 388. Good principles … should be laid betimes, as the foundation.
1875. Helps, Ess., 59. He [man of business] must learn betimes to love truth.
2. spec. At an early hour, early in the morning.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, 43. I wil to morow bytymes as the sonne riseth take my way to rome.
1535. Coverdale, Bible, Josh. vii. 16. Iosua gat him vp by tymes in the mornynge.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 2. Not to bee a bedde after midnight, is to be vp betimes.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 1 Sept. Up pretty betimes, and after a little at my violl, to my office.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, III. 59. I will ride to Perth to-morrow by times.
3. In good time, in due time; while there is yet time, before it is too late.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 372. And it wer nede þat cristis chirche toke tente to þis word by-tymys.
1545. Brinklow, Complaynt (1874), 95. Repent betymes, and … fall diligently to prayer.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 186. To appease betimes Th’ incensed Deitie.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., II. xvii. 298. Happy those who learn this lesson betimes.
1860. Hawthorne, Marb. Faun (1879), II. xxv. 254. It is wise, therefore, to come back betimes, or never.
4. In a short time, soon, speedily, anon, forthwith.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XIV. 5966. So hit tid hom tensiche betymys þat day.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 36. He tyres betimes, that spurs too fast betimes.
1707. Freind, Peterborow’s Cond. Sp., 180. If we hope for a Maritine Force betimes in these Seas, [etc.].
