Forms: 2–3 timelich, 4 timlich, tymeli, 5 -lie, 5–6 -ly, 6–7 lye, timelie, 6– timely. [f. TIME sb. + -LY1: cf. ON. tímalig-r temporal. Not recorded in OE., and rare in ME.; it may have arisen later than the adv. under its influence.)]
1. Occurring or appearing in good time; early; † of a plant, fruit, etc., bearing or ripening early. Now rare or Obs. (exc. as blending with 2).
1382. Wyclif, Jer. v. 24. Oure God, that ȝyueth to vs tymeli rein.
1530. Palsgr., 327/2. Tymely, temprif.
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 86. To haue timely Roses.
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm., xv. (Parker Soc.), 301. The timeliest fruit often cometh to least proof.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., II. ii. (1622), 34. Short summers, and timely winters.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 6 (1619), 405. It filled Paul with ioy to remember Timothies timely faith.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), II. 8. If a timely stop were not put to the progress.
2. Occurring, done, or made at a fitting or suitable time; seasonable, opportune, well-timed.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 13. [He] nutteð timeliche metes, and ȝemeð his muðes meðe.
a. 1541. Wyatt, Compl. Love to Reason, 59. Though my timely death hath been so slow.
1580. Sidney, Ps. I. ii. Lyke a freshly planted tree,… Whose braunches faile not timelie fruite to nourish.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. iii. 7. Now spurres the lated Traueller apace, To gayne the timely Inne.
1738. Wesley, Psalms, XVIII. iv. He … sent the timely Rescue down.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, xliii. Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And loved a timely joke.
1890. Spectator, 31 May, 763/2. With the general drift of his essay we heartily agree, and think it both wise and timely.
† 3. Of or in time, as opposed to eternity; temporal, earthly. Obs. rare.
1340. Ayenb., 209. We habbeþ niede … of gostliche guodes and of timliche guodes.
c. 1400. Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. III. 123. Þat he absteyne hym from alle þingis tymely þat myȝtte fylen his soule.
a. 1615. Donne, Ess. (1651), 30. Saying that after John’s eternal Beginning, and before Moses’s timely beginning, Christ had his beginning.
† 4. a. Of time or duration; pertaining to the time of day. b. Keeping time or measure. Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 4. A Diall told the timely howres. Ibid., v. 3. And many Bardes, that to the trembling chord, Can tune their timely voices cunningly.
