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betimes

[bih-tahymz]
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adverb
  1. early; in good time: He was up betimes doing his lessons.
  2. occasionally; at times.
  3. Archaic. within a short time; soon.
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Origin of betimes

1275–1325; Middle English bitimes, equivalent to bitime (from phrase bi time by time) + -s -s1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

earlyanonoccasionallyprematurelyshortlysoonspeedily

Examples from the Web for betimes

Historical Examples

  • She sent for me betimes, and I went in fear and trembling of her wrath and scorn.

    The Shame of Motley

    Raphael Sabatini

  • They do call me 'Darby the Blast' betimes, av that 'a a name.

  • She would be betimes at the hospital to-morrow, and she would leave it late.

    The Long Roll

    Mary Johnston

  • The next morning betimes Ben presented himself at the Emporium.

    In Apple-Blossom Time

    Clara Louise Burnham

  • An' what'll the master be sayin' if he's wantin' you betimes?

    Reels and Spindles

    Evelyn Raymond

British Dictionary definitions for betimes

betimes

adverb archaic
  1. in good time; early
  2. in a short time; soon
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Word Origin

C14 bitimes; see by, time
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for betimes

adv.

"at an early period," early 14c., from betime (c.1300, from be- + time) + adverbial genitive -s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper