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Timely vs Timeless - What's the difference?

timely | timeless |

In obsolete terms the difference between timely and timeless

is that timely is at the right time; seasonably while timeless is done at an improper time; unseasonable; untimely.

As adjectives the difference between timely and timeless

is that timely is done at the proper time while timeless is eternal.

As an adverb timely

is in good time; early, quickly.

timely

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Done at the proper time.
  • Happening or appearing at the proper time.
  • * Milton
    • The timely dew of sleep.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 20 , author=Jamie Lillywhite , title=Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The athletic Walker, one of Tottenham's more effective attacking elements with his raids from right-back, made a timely intervention after Rose had been dispossessed and even Aaron Lennon was needed to provide an interception in the danger zone to foil another attempt by the Russians.}}
  • (obsolete) Keeping time or measure.
    • (Spenser)

    Synonyms

    * (done at the proper time ): well-timed * (happening or appearing at the proper time ): opportune, seasonable

    Antonyms

    * (done at the proper time ): badly timed, ill-timed * (happening or appearing at the proper time ): inopportune, unseasonable

    Derived terms

    * mistimely * overtimely * timelily * timeliness * timely-parted * untimely

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (archaic) In good time; early, quickly.
  • * 2000 , (George RR Martin), A Storm of Swords , Bantam 2011, p. 587:
    • ‘If I had been born more timely , he said, Rhaegar would have married me instead of Elia, and it would all have come out different.’
  • (obsolete) At the right time; seasonably.
  • * 1646 , (Thomas Browne), Pseudodoxia Epidemica :
    • And this we shall more readily perform, if we timely survey our knowledge, impartially singling out those encroachments, which junior compliance and popular credulity hath admitted.

    See also

    * seasonably

    timeless

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Eternal.
  • * (rfdate) Young
    • Timeless night and chaos.
  • Not affected by time; ageless.
  • (obsolete) Done at an improper time; unseasonable; untimely.
  • * (rfdate) Alexander Pope
    • Nor fits it to prolong the heavenly feast / Timeless , indecent.
  • * (rfdate) Shakespeare
    • Must I behold thy timeless , cruel death?
  • Not decreasing over time in quality and appeal.
    • The cave carvings have a timeless beauty.

    Synonyms

    * (eternal) eternal, everlasting, immortal, infinite, never-ending, sempiternal * (not affected by time) ageless

    Antonyms

    * (eternal) finite, limited * (not affected by time) aged, old

    Derived terms

    * timeless existence * timelessly * timeless moment * timelessness * timeless Test * untimeless

    Anagrams

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