betimes

9.9

It happens at an early time, often in the morning

adverb
/bɪˈtaɪmz/

Archaic

: temprano

If you arrive betimes, you will have time to prepare for the meeting.

Examples

He finished his homework betimes and enjoyed the rest of his evening.
She always wakes up betimes to go for a morning jog.
In the mirror of his ambition, he saw not himself... ...but the face of a female, who lived betimes in Basra... ...this very town of ours.

Sinbad the Sailor (1947)

Synonyms

early

vsbetimes

∞ 1.0

Before the usual or expected time

also implies acting at a suitable moment or without delay rather than only before time

timely

vsbetimes

111 3.0

Happening at the right time to be useful

also covers acting before the usual time or acting immediately, not only suitability

promptly

vsbetimes

98 2.1

Without delay or at the planned time

also covers acting before the usual time or at a suitable moment

How Early

early

∞ 1.0

betimes

Archaic

9.9

punctually

1 3.5

shortly

621 1.0

Surface Forms

betimes positive

Morphology

betimes = betime (opaque) = be + time + s

Although historically analyzable as be- + time + -s, the modern meaning 'early' is not predictable for a typical learner from the component parts.

Etymology

Betimes comes from the old parts be- meaning 'at' and time meaning 'time', so it originally meant 'at the right time' or 'in good time'. That's why to do something betimes is to do it early or promptly.