at the right or an opportune or appropriate time - an archaic word for early
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
time•ly /ˈtaɪmli/USA pronunciation
adj., -li•er, -li•est.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- occurring or happening at a good or suitable time:a timely warning.
time•ly
(tīm′lē),USA pronunciation adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv.
adj.
adv.
time′li•ness, n.
adj.
- occurring at a suitable time;
seasonable;
opportune;
well-timed:a timely warning. - [Archaic.]early.
adv.
- seasonably;
opportunely. - [Archaic.]early or soon.
- Middle English tim(e)liche, Old English tīmlīce (adverb, adverbial). See time, -ly bef. 1000
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See opportune.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'timely' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
godsend
- help
- information
- mature
- opportune
- seasonable
- seasonal
- tidy
- timeous
- untimely
- well-timed