untimely - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Middle English untymely (also earlier untimliche), equivalent to un- +‎ timely. First attested in the early 13th century.^[1][2] Compare Middle Danish utimelig, Old English untídlic (“unreasonable”).^[3]

• IPA^(key): /ʌnˈtaɪmli/

untimely (comparative untimelier or more untimely, superlative untimeliest or most untimely)

1. At an inopportune time.

   Synonyms: inopportune; see also Thesaurus:untimely

   Antonyms: timely, opportune, on time, to time; see also Thesaurus:punctual

   untimely remarks

2. Early; premature.

   Synonyms: early, premature; see also Thesaurus:premature

   Antonyms: late, tardy; see also Thesaurus:overdue

   an untimely death

   • c. 1779–81, Samuel Johnson, “Savage”, in The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, volume 3, published 1794:

     The heroes of literary as well as civil history have been very often no less remarkable for what they have suffered, than for what they have atchieved^[sic]; and volumes have been written only to enumerate the miseries of the learned, and relate their unhappy lives, and untimely deaths.

   • 1898, Florence Earle Coates, Before the Hour:

     Untimely blossom! Poor, impatient thing, / ⁠That, starting rashly from the sheltering mould, / ⁠Bravest the peevish wind and sullen cold, / ⁠Mistaking thine own ardors for the spring

• untimeless (archaic)

untimely (comparative more untimely, superlative most untimely)

1. Prematurely.

   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene viii], page 151:

     Tell thee, Macduffe was from his Mothers womb / Untimely ript.

   • 1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 10, page 215:

     They light fires under fruit trees to keep the fruit from falling untimely.

• minutely