Forms: 1 tímlíce, 2–3 timliche, 3 timeliche, -lyche, 4 tymliche, 4–6 tymely (5 tymli, -ly, 6 Sc. tymlie), 4– timely. [Late OE. tímlíce, f. tima TIME + -LY2: possibly suggested by ON. tímaliga adv. timely, early.]
1. Early, betimes; in good time; soon, quickly. Now arch. or poet.
c. 1000. Ælfric, De Vet. et de Nov. Test., ad init. Ic þe ne ʓetiðode ealles swa timlice, ær þam þe þu mid weorcum þæs ʓewilnodost æt me.
c. 1205. Lay., 31369. Penda … seide þat he wolde sahtnesse wurche and timliche him speken wið.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2017. Ȝer þu þe timluker [maturius] do þe i þe ȝeinturn.
a. 1225. Juliana, 9. Ase timliche as he hefde iherd þis.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim., 415. Þe kyng … Comaundes hem to meeten him tymely on þe morwen.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 107. As tymliche as I may, Fulofte whanne it is brod day.
1455. Paston Lett., I. 338. I had lever ye were at London a weke the rather and tymelyer then a weke to late.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. i. 314. The Aristolochias do flowre … timelier in hoate Countries.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 26. Gif in a schip, tymlie in the morning ȝe passe by the craig.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 4 b. The Spring visiteth not these quarters so timely, as the Eastern parts.
1680. O. Heywood, Diaries, etc. (1881), II. 299. Came home pretty timely of the day.
1716. S. Sewall, Diary, 5 Oct. Got up so timely, that the Comissions were read by 11. mane.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., Morning, v. Oh! timely happy, timely wise, Hearts that with rising morn arise!
2. † Soon enough, in time, not too late (obs.); hence, In due season, at the right or a fortunate time; seasonably; opportunely as regards time.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 25. Ȝet ic mei longe libben and alle mine sunne timliche ibeten.
1552. Huloet, Tymely or in dew season, as nother to tymely nor to late.
1621. Fletcher, Isl. Princess, V. ii. A virtuous point of gratitude, Timely, and nobly taken.
1678. Wanley, Wonders Lit. World, V. ii. § 8. 469/1. Ruffinus … sought to betray him to the Goths, but was timely discovered to his ruine.
1715. Leoni, Palladio’s Archit. (1742), I. 1. All requisite materials timely provided.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., II. x. 247. Buckingham had timely perished to be saved from the reproach of one more political crime.
1842. Arnold, Hist. Rome, II. 208. The attempt of L. Fulvius to surprise Rome … was timely baffled.
3. Usually hyphened to an adj. or pple. when used attributively.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 161. Oft haue I seene a timely-parted Ghost, Of ashy semblance.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, v. § 5 (1727), 221. Our timely-repented and often forsaken habits of sin.
Mod. Your timely offered help.
