adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.] In a timeous manner; † at an early hour or season, in good time (obs.); hence, early or soon enough, in time; at the right or a fitting time; seasonably; opportunely.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 1180. To souppar went, and tymysly thai slepe.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 188. A chalder of quhet als arly and tymsly sawn as it ma be.
1571–5. Diurnal of Occurr. (1833), 259. Certane … horsmen, and fyftie hagbutaris past furth tymouslie in the mornyng.
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 319. If one presbyterie was not warnit tymeouslie, all the rest conveening cannot justlie make any conclusion whilk may binde that presbyterie.
1708. Roy. Proclam. (Scotl.), in Lond. Gaz., No. 4456/2. We Ordain Our Solicitor timeously to dispatch Copies of the above Proclamation.
1758. Washington, Lett., Writ. 1889, II. 34. Differences … which, if not properly, and timously attended to may be productive of the most serious consequences.
1820. Scott, Monast., ix. That fitting preparation may be timeously made.
1824. Syd. Smith, Amer., Wks. 1859, II. 52/1. But then comes the great disgrace and danger of America—the existence of slavery, which, if not timously corrected, will one day entail (and ought to entail) a bloody servile war upon the Americans—which will separate America into slave States and States disclaiming slavery, and which remains at present as the foulest blot in the moral character of that people.
1901. Scotsman, 13 March, 11/3. Undue detention of two vessels occasioned by the defenders failing timeously to deliver coals for loading.
