133} earliness &c adj.; morning &c 125.
punctuality; promptitude &c (activity) 682; haste &c (velocity)
274; suddenness &c (instantaneity) 113.
prematurity, precocity, precipitation, anticipation; a stitch in
time.
V. be early &c adj., be beforehand &c adv.; keep time, take time by the
forelock, anticipate, forestall; have the start, gain the start; steal
a march upon; gain time, draw on futurity; bespeak, secure, engage,
preengage†.
accelerate; expedite &c (quicken) 274; make haste &c (hurry) 684.
Adj. early, prime, forward; prompt &c (active) 682; summary.
premature, precipitate, precocious; prevenient†, anticipatory;
rath†.
sudden &c (instantaneous) 113; unexpected &c 508; near, near at
hand; immediate.
Adv. early, soon, anon, betimes, rath†; eft, eftsoons; ere long, before
long, shortly; beforehand; prematurely &c adj.; precipitately &c
(hastily) 684; too soon; before its time, before one's time; in
anticipation; unexpectedly &c 508.
suddenly &c (instantaneously) 113; before one can say 'Jack
Robinson', at short notice, extempore; on the spur of the moment, on
the spur of the occasion [Bacon]; at once; on the spot, on the instant;
at sight; offhand, out of hand; a' vue d'oeil [Fr.]; straight,
straightway, straightforth†; forthwith, incontinently, summarily,
immediately, briefly, shortly, quickly, speedily, apace, before the ink
is dry, almost immediately, presently at the first opportunity, in no
long time, by and by, in a while, directly.
Phr. no sooner said than done, immediately, if not sooner; tout vient a
temps pour qui sait attendre [Fr.].
132a. Punctuality — N. punctuality, promptness, immediateness.
V. be prompt, be on time, be in time; arrive on time; be in the nick of
time.
Adj. timely, seasonable, in time, punctual, prompt.
Adv. on time, punctually, at the deadline, precisely, exactly; right on
time, to the minute; in time; in good time, in military time, in
pudding time†, in due time; time enough; with no time to spare, by a
hair's breadth.
Phr. touch and go, not a minute too soon, in the nick of time, just
under the wire, get on board before the train leaves the station.