| 释义 |
▪ I. soon, adv.|suːn|
Forms: (see below).
[OE. sóna, = OS. sâno, sâna, commonly sân (MLG. sân), OFris. sôn, sân, OHG. (and MHG.) sân, MFlem. saen (WFlem. zaen, zaan); not represented in Scand., and now obs. in most of the Continental dialects.
As OE. sóna had the sense of ‘at once, immediately’, it did not readily admit of comparison, and no comparative or superlative forms are recorded. The appearance of these in early ME. is due to the more extended sense which the word had by that time acquired.]
A. Forms.
1. 1 sona, 2–6 (7 Sc.) sone (4 zone), 4–7 soone; 3–4 son, 5 sonne; 5– soon (9 dial. suon, sooin, zoon).[For illustration see senses 1–9.] 2. north. and Sc. (α) 4–5 soyn, 4–5, 8 soyne, 6 shoin.
13..Cursor M. 16762 + 20 (Cott.), He..sayd þis word ful soyn. Ibid. 17288 + 82 Þe thrid day after soyne. 1434Misyn Mending Life 124 [It] soyne is cast bak. 1489Barbour's Bruce iv. 367 In-to Kentyre soyn cumin ar thai. 1572Mem. in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 23 How shoin perceaved [etc.]. c1746J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. (1860) 3 So soyne this Morning.
(β) 4 sun, 4, 8– sune, 5 swne, 6 suin, 9 suen, seun.
13..Cursor M. 987 (Cott.), Þai brak þe forbot als sun. Ibid. 1388 Seth..sune com til his fader again. c1470Henry Wallace v. 1090 Thai sall swne tyne ma. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. II. 416 How suin he [it]..ressauet had. 1792Burns ‘I do confess thou art sae fair’ 15 Yet sune thou shalt be thrown aside. 1832W. Stephenson Gateshead Local Poems 100 This..pair Will suen myek ye knock under. 1894R. Reid Kirkbride i, This..body maun sune be dust.
(γ) 5 soune, sovne, 6 soun, sown, schowne.
14..Sc. Leg. Saints xii. (Matthias) 228 Þat sovne þu ga. Ibid. xl. (Ninian) 1198 Furth on sown can he fare. 1489Barbour's Bruce i. 566 The endentur..soune schawyt the iniquite. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 8 Schowne thair fell ane gret varience.
(δ) 7 seaun, 8 sean, 9 seean, seen.
1684Yorks. Dial. 3 (E.D.S.), Seaun, seaun,..bring my Skeel. 1790Mrs. Wheeler Westmld. Dial. 86 Awr Courtship wod sean hae been at an end. 1871W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxi. 159 They'll seen get their sairin' o' him an's mither tee. 1876Robinson Whitby Gloss. 165/1 It may as weel come seean as syne.
3. compar. 3 sonre, 4 sonnere, 4–5 sonner (5 sonder, sonnare); 4 sennere, 5 sannere, -ur, -yr (see also sander adv.); 4 sun(n)ere, 4–5 sunner, 5 sunnar, 6 Sc. schunar, suiner, 8– Sc. suner; 4 sonir, -ere, 4–6 soner, 5 sonare, -yre, 6 sonar, -yr; 6 soonner, 6– sooner.[For illustration see senses 10–13. The form souner(e which appears in some of the quotations should prob. be sonner(e.] 4. superl. 3 sonest, 5 -yst, 6 -ast; 4 sennest, sannest, sunnest, 4–5 sonnest; 6– soonest.[For illustration see senses 14–16.] B. Signification.
I.
1. Within a short time (after a particular point of time specified or implied), before long, quickly; † (in early use) without delay, forthwith, straightway: a. With reference to a definite past or future time.
c825Vesp. Psalter lxix. 4 Sien forcerred sona [L. statim] & scomiende. c897K. ælfred tr. Gregory's Past. C. 196 Ac he him sona ondwyrde, & him swiðe stiernlice stierde. 971Blickl. Hom. 15 He þa sona instæpes ᵹeseh, & þa sona wæs Drihtne fylᵹende. c1030Rule St. Benet (Logeman) 40 Þane þonne onginð, sona [L. mox] ealle mid arwurðnessa arison. 1154O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1135, Aᵹenes him risen sona þa ricemen þe wæron swikes. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1221 Abraham rapede him sone in sped for to fulfillen godes reed. a1300Cursor M. 2995 He did to cal habraham son, And said, ‘qui has þou þusgat don?’ 1340Ayenb. 173 Efterward þe dyaþ..him ssel sterie zone him to ssrive. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 48 Þene he asoylede hire soone, and siþ to hire seide [etc.]. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 57 Alexander, coueyte noght þinges coruptibles..þat þou most sone forsake. c1475Rauf Coilȝear 142 Sone was the Supper dicht, and the fyre bet. 1513More Edw. V (1641) 8 Whose life he looked that ill dyet would soone shorten. 1567Satir. Poems Reform. viii. 31 Cum, sweir þe saikles sone. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 176 We found..that the King's good will became soon diverted. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 776 The soft Napæan Race will soon repent Their Anger. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. iii, The day soon arrived on which we were to disperse. 1796H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 552 We shall soon have..the exhibition of a museum at the Tuilleries. 1831Scott Ct. Rob. xxxii, With..eyes dimmed by the powerful idea of soon parting with the light of day. 1841Penny Cycl. XXI. 173/1 The rout soon became general. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 495 The voice of fate calls. Soon I must drink the poison.
b. In general statements, in which the time reckoned from is indefinite.
c825Vesp. Psalter xxxvi. 20 Feond..dryhtnes sona [L. mox] ᵹearade & upahefene biað. 971Blickl. Hom. 21 Ne he hine na ne onstyreþ, syþþan seo unᵹesynelice sawl him of biþ; ac sona he molsnaþ. a1200Vices & Virt. 99 Ȝif hie cumeð fram dieule, prudencia hes icnauð sone. a1275Prov. ælfred 630 in O.E. Misc. 136 Buch þe from þi sete, & bide him sone þer-to. c1300Havelok 78 Wo so dede hem wrong or lath,..He dede hem sone to hauen ricth. 1390Gower Conf. I. 109 So that it proeveth wel therfore, The strengthe of man is sone lore. 1445in Anglia XXVIII. 271 Wherfore thou preventist tyme, and soon thi bowntee shewist. 1450–80tr. Secreta Secret. iv. 7 His Rewme may not stonde longe in prosperite but sone come to distruccioun. 1538Starkey England i. ii. 47 The body, yf hyt be not strong, sone..ys oppressyd & ouerthrowne. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 647 Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide. 1633P. Fletcher Purple Isl. iv. xxxii, Fitting his operation, For swallowing soon to fall, and rise for inspiration. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 286 This species soon takes to build in artificial cavities. 1812New Botanic Gard. I. 44 They very soon take root. 1855Orr's Circ. Sci., Geol., etc. 240 This gas..soon mixes with the air around.
Prov.1530Palsgr. 885/1 Sone hotte sone colde. 1546–[see ripe a. 1 c]. c1580J. Jeffere Bugbears iv. v. 58 Lyttle sayd, sone amended. 1670Ray Prov. 285 Little said, soon mendit. 1861Mayhew Lond. Lab. III. 391 Soon got, soon gone.
†c. till soon, for a short time. Obs.
1526Skelton Magnyf. 322 Fare you well tyll sone. 1533J. Heywood Pardoner & Frere Plays (1905) 17 Canst not tarry and abide till soon, And read them then when preaching is done? 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. iv. i. 192 Farewell till soone.
2. a. Followed by after (adv.) or afterwards († also eft, efter, thereafter, sithen).
In OE. also eft(er) sóna: see efter-, eftsoons.
c900O.E. Chron. an. 797 (Parker MS.), And þa sona eft..he meahte ᵹeseon & sprecan. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 72 And sona efter se hona ᵹesang. a1122O.E. Chron. an. 1101, And þa sona þæræfter wurdon þa heafodmen..wiðer-ræden toᵹeanes þam cynge. c1200Ormin 7256 And sone siþþenn sennde he forþ Þatt Kalldewisshe genge. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8277 Ȝut sone þer after an oþer com al so. c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 68 Als yhe sal here aftirward sone. c1450Myrr. our Ladye 30 They shulde..often fynde themselfe better at ease sone after. c1450Brut ccxlii. 359 Sone aftirward riȝt þere he made his ende. 1577Harrison Descr. Brit. i. xi, Soone after also it taketh in a rillet called the Bure. a1700Evelyn Diary 21 Oct. 1632, I was soone afterwards sent for into Surrey. 1796F. Burney Camilla I. 182 Soon after, Lionel, galloping across the park, hastily dismounted. 1845Nicolas Mem. Chaucer in C.'s Wks. I. 32 Soon after, he was twice paid 40s{ddd}for his half yearly Robes. 1875Encycl. Brit. III. 305/1 Soon afterwards a direct charge of plagiarism was made against Balzac.
b. Followed by after (prep.) with simple object or clause.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxiv. 29 Sona..æfter costunge daᵹana ðara. a1000Cædmon's Satan 630 Sona æfter þæm wordum. c1200Ormin 3332 Sone anan affterr þatt he Wass borenn þær to manne. c1400Rom. Rose 3777 Aftir the calme the trouble soune Mote folowe. c1500Melusine v. (1890) 27 And soone aftir that he had kyssed hym, he..lepe vpon his hors. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 66 Soone after which, three hundred Lordes he slew Of British bloud. 1779Mirror No. 65, Soon after he returned to his native country, he married Lady C―. 1837Lockhart Scott I. viii. 247 The young kinsman was introduced to her soon after her arrival at Mertoun. 1879R. Morris Chaucer's Prol., etc. (ed. 6) p. xii, Perhaps now, or perhaps soon after the loss of his office.
3. a. Early, betimes; before the time specified or referred to is much advanced.
a1300Cursor M. 3045 Sun on þe morn, quen it was dai. a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 23, I went soon To bedde. c1385― L.G.W. 1637 Hypsipyle, To come sone at nyght Vn-to hire chambir. 1598Shakes. Merry W. i. iv. 8 We'll haue a posset for 't soone at night. 1616B. Jonson Devil an Ass i. i, As you make your soone at nights relation. 1697tr. Trav. C'tess D'Anois (1706) 45, I rose in effect very soon next Morning. c1746[see A. 2 α]. 1807Wordsw. ‘The world is too much with us’ 1 Late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers. 1859Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 428 Soon, at the South this word is frequently used by all classes as a substitute for early... ‘I shall be there soon in the evening.’
†b. Early in the evening. Obs.
Prob. by ellipse for soon at night: see prec.
1619A. Gill Logon. Angl. (1621) 34 Quikli citð, süner..citius, sünest..citissimè; nam sün hodie apud plurimos significat ad primam vesperam, olim citò. 1674Ray N.C. Words 44 Soon, the Evening: a soon, at Even. [Hence in later glossaries.]
c. At an early stage, date, period, etc.
1615W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 37 Soone crookes the tree that good Camrell must bee. 1664Pepys Diary 31 Aug., My wife has got me some pretty good oysters, which is very soon and the soonest, I think, I ever eat any. 1771Luckombe Hist. Printing 125 The Abby of St. Albans had printing there very soon. 1876Gladstone Glean. (1879) II. 300 For his own eye, the ornaments of his Essay on Milton were so soon as in 1843 gaudy and ungraceful.
4. In various phrases denoting ‘At the very time or moment when, whenever’:
†a. soon so. Also with sum, and ellipt. without connecting particle.
The reduced forms son se, sons, occur in the Ormulum. In OE. sóna þæs (þe) is also found.
(a)c897K. ælfred tr. Gregory's Past. C. 431 Sona swa ic anwoc, swa wilnode ic eft wines. 971Blickl. Hom. 37 Sona swa þu ᵹeseo nacodne wædlan, þonne ᵹeᵹyre þu hine. a1122O.E. Chron. an. 1100, Sona swa se eorl Rotbert into Normandiᵹ com. c1200Ormin 6450 Sone swa þatt steorrne stod Þa kingess wel itt sæȝhenn. a1225Leg. Kath. 476 Sone se ich seh þe leome of þe soðe lare. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5897 He baptised þis aeldred sone so he was ybore. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 226 Was neuere gome..Fairer vnder-fongen..Þan my-self sothly sone so he wist.
(b)c1200Ormin 821 Sone summ he cuþe ben Himm ane bi himm sellfenn. 13..Cursor M. 11015 (Gött.), Sone sum vr leuedi was mett wid þe angel.
(c)c1250Gen. & Ex. 329 Sone ȝe it ðor-of hauen eten, Al ȝe it sulen witent. c1300Havelok 1354 Sone it was day, sone he him cladde.
†b. so soon so. Obs.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 53 Swa sone se hi beoð iturnd awey from heom? c1250Owl & Night. 518 So sone so þu sittest abrode, Þu forleost al þine wise. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 4173 Amorwe, so sone so it was day. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xvii. 63 So sone so þe samaritan hadde siȝte of þis lede.
c. as soon as. (Now the ordinary use.) Also † as soon so.
From the end of the 15th to the middle of the 18th cent. the as and soon were commonly written together (assone, assoone, asoone, assoon). In ME. alson(e) as also occurs: see alsoon adv. i.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 225 As sone as we were ymaked, oure maister was so prout. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xx. 63 Ac as sone so þe samaritan hadde sighte of þat syke, He alyghte a-non. a1400Theophilus xxxi, As sone as he herde of þat tiding, He rapede hym wel swithe. 1445in Anglia XXVIII. 277 Thei wrey thin enemyes to þe as sone as þei the see banke touche. 1484Caxton Fables of æsop ii. xvii, Assone as the wynter shalle come thow shalt deye. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark i. (1552) 121 Assone as Jesus was aduertised thereof. 1577Googe tr. Heresbach's Husb. §41 As soone as your Rape seede is of,..you may sowe..Branke as they call it. 1607Hieron Wks. I. 259 Andrew, who assoone as hee had found Christ, went to call Peter. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 90 Asoone as they feele their need. 1654–66Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 629 As soon as ever I understood..I made him humble retributions. 1710Prideaux Orig. Tithes v. 282 This Law..fell into disuse assoon as made. 1764T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. I. (1765) 58 Assoon as they knew the terms. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxviii, ‘Madame Montoni is now dying, sir,’ said Emily, as soon as she saw him. 1861M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 42 As soon as the French trade was again opened.
d. so soon as. In early use sometimes † al so, also soon as.
c1330Assump. Virg. (B.M. MS.) 157 So sone as sche hadde doun, Newe cloþes sche dide hure apoun. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 43 Þe same freris ben holden to renne to hem also sone as þei may. 1465Paston Lett. I. 132 Al so sone as I come to the Blakheth, the capteyn made the comens to take me. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 166 b, The Frenche kyng, so sone as he heard therof, kepte a solempne funerall. 1588Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 359 So soone as their inditement was read, and iudgement giuen. 16373rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 75/1 The Dunkirkers, so soon as they made out what I was, took in their flag. 1700Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 823 So soon as the Death of King John was..known. 1751R. Paltock P. Wilkins (1884) II. 243 So soon as he was without the territory of the palace. 1818Colebrooke Obligations 14 The article..is sold so soon as the parties have consented. 1882J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. II. 8 So soon as the formal consent of Edward had been obtained.
e. soon as. Now poet., dial., and colloq.
c1375Cursor M. 8167 (Fairf.), Sone as he þe king had knawen, welcome he saide. 1640Habington Edw. IV, 24 She was repulst by the inhabitants soone as she landed. 1658Dryden Cromwell vii, Nor was his Vertue poison'd, soon as born. 1746Francis tr. Horace, Epist. i. xix. 13 Soon as I spoke, our rival Bards engage. 1801Lusignan II. 85 [She] had hitherto communicated every thought soon as it had birth. 1885–94R. Bridges Eros & Psyche Aug. xxx, The which she knew, soon as she heard the name. 1907W. P. Ridge Name of Garland ii. 33 Get out of my kitchen soon as you can. 1930J. B. Priestley Angel Pavement ii. 91 We want another man for London and district, soon as we can get one. 1930W. Faulkner As I lay Dying 58, I done put supper on and I'll be there soon as I milk. 1940― Hamlet i. ii. 26 Jody came in last night. I knowed it soon as I saw him.
f. how soon (as). Sc. Obs.
1557Peebles Burgh Rec. (1872) 236 To be deliuerit..quhowsone he be requirit thairto. 1563Winȝet Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 124 Quhow sone as a sinnar is resauit..to mercy. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 25 Bot how sone thay begin to bigg thair nestis, the grettest gun..will nocht scar thame. 1754[see how adv. 14 b].
5. a. so soon, so quickly, so early. Also followed by as.
(a)c1320Sir Tristr. 86 Þurch min hert..Ywounded haþ he me So sone. 1382Wyclif Gal. i. 6, I wondre, that thus so soone ȝe ben born ouer fro him. 1535Coverdale Exod. ii. 18 How came ye so soone to daie? 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 191 What, all so soone asleepe? 1664Butler Hud. ii. iii. 1131 Which way came I Through so immense a space so soon? 1772Hist. Rochester 27 Too large a work to be compleated so soon. 1828Lytton Pelham III. iii, If you are going so soon, honour me by accepting my arm.
(b)1671Milton P.R. iv. 332 Where so soon As in our native Language can I find That solace?
†b. not so soon{ddd}(that) or but (that), = no sooner{ddd}than (see 13 b). Obs.
1390Gower Conf. I. 171 This word was noght so sone spoke, That his on yhe anon was loke. c1477Caxton Jason 71 b, Appollo had not so sone finysshid these wordes but that alle they..cryed [etc.]. 1549Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1641) 60 The husbandman had not so soone throwne seed in his ground, but steppeth up the enimy. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. vii, Wee were not so soone on land, the knight..did instantly request me [etc.]. Ibid. xx, They were not so soone issued, but were cleane spoyled..of the enimies. 1605Camden Rem. (1623) 217 But hee had not so soone spoken the word, but the surging waue dashed him.
6. a. Preceded by over or too.
c1400Rom. Rose 3842 For Shame to longe hath be thee froo; Over soone she was agoo. c1513Skelton Agst. Scottes 130 Vnto the castell of Norram..to sone ye came. 1599Shakes., etc. Pass. Pilgr. 134 Fair creature, kill'd too soon by death's sharp sting! 1617Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems xviii. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 38 Too sone, (alace!)..Thy pairt is acted on this wordlie stage. 1720De Foe Capt. Singleton i. (1840) 3 This fell out something too soon. 1821Shelley Adonais xxvii, Why didst thou leave the trodden paths of men Too soon? 1870E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. II. 205 It was not a moment too soon. 1902Skeat Havelok p. xvii, A curious instance of anticipation, i.e. the too soon writing down of a coming letter.
b. Followed by enough.
1545R. Ascham Toxoph. ii. (Arb.) 114 Not layinge before theyr eyes, thys wyse prouerbe: Sone ynough, if wel ynough. 1685Gracian's Courtier's Orac. 56 Soon enough, if well enough, said a Wise Man. 1784Cowper Task ii. 622 A man o' th' town dines late, but soon enough, With reasonable forecast and dispatch T' ensure a side-box station at half price.
7. a. as soon (as), as quickly, as early (as).
a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, E j b, He and his folowed so quickly after, that they were almost at y⊇ gates as sone as the Ambassadors. 1594Davies Orchestra xli, The Moon..ends her Pavin thirteen times as soon as doth her brother. 1634Milton Comus 1016 From thence [I] can soar as soon To the corners of the Moon. 1667― P.L. iv. 464, I soon returnd;..it returnd as soon with answering looks. 1691Norris Pract. Disc. 81 But alas, the Mystery of Iniquity began to work assoon as the Mystery of Godliness.
†b. as soon, at once, forthwith. Obs. (Cf. alsoon adv. 2.)
1585Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 23 He stays assone, and in his mynde doeth cast What way to take.
†c. as soon{ddd}, as soon, at one time{ddd}, at another; now{ddd}, again. Obs.
1581G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. ii. (1586) 78 b, As soone with Gentlemen, as soone with the baser sorte, now and then with Princes, now and then with priuate persons. 1647Trapp Marrow Gd. Authors in Comm. Ep. 715 Erasmus..was as soon with Protestants, and as soon with Papists, and so was well thought of on neither side.
8. as soon (as):
a. As readily; as willingly. Also so soon as, just as soon; as soon as look at you: see look v. 1 a.
1590Shakes. Mids. N. iii. ii. 52 Ile beleeue as soone This whole earth may be bord. 1601― Jul. C. i. ii. 201 Yet..I do not know the man I should auoyd So soone as that spare Cassius. 1702Vanbrugh False Friend ii. i, I'd as soon undertake to keep Portocarero honest. 1775Sheridan St. Patr. Day ii. iv, I had as soon recover, notwithstanding. 1777― Sch. Scand. i. i, For he'll abuse a stranger just as soon as his best friend. 1816Whewell in Mrs. S. Douglas Life (1881) 22, I had as soon be beaten by him as by anybody else. 1825Scott Talism. x, They would march under the banner of Satan as soon. 1913W. B. Yeats Hour-Glass in Mask V. 328 I'd as soon listen to dried peas in a bladder as listen to your thoughts. 1930A. P. Herbert Water Gipsies xvii. 254 I'd as soon have stone-ginger any day. 1966D. Francis Flying Finish x. 133 He waved me to join him, which I would just as soon not have done. 1974C. Hampton Savages (1976) vii. 45 Because Chico well He'd cut your head off soon as say good morning. 1974M. Hebden Pride of Dolphins i. iii. 34 I'd just as soon you dropped me..and let me make my own way home.
b. With as much reason or probability.
1591Shakes. Two Gent. ii. vii. 19 Thou wouldst as soone goe kindle fire with snow As seeke to quench the fire of Loue with words. 1670Eachard Cont. Clergy 86 They may assoon expect..consolation from him that lies rack'd with the gout.., as from a divine thus broken..in his fortunes. 1815Shelley Alastor 509 Measureless ocean may declare as soon..as the universe Tell [etc.].
c. Used to suggest denial of a statement.
1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. i. 98 Ant. E. I sent thee for a rope... Dro. S. You sent me for a ropes end as soone.
9. Comb. With ppl. adjs. (and pples.), as soon-arriving, soon-believing, soon-coming, soon-descending, soon-drying, etc.; soon-choked, soon-clad, soon-come, soon-contented, soon-dropped, soon-finished, soon-forgotten, etc. With infin., as soon-to-be.
a.1581Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 34 The soone repenting pride of Agamemnon. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. i. 60 A dram of poyson, such soone speeding geare. 1593― Rich. II, i. i. 101 His soone beleeuing aduersaries. 1616Drummond of Hawthornden Poems, Thirsis in Dispraise of Beauty i, Soone-fading Beautie, which of Hues doth rise. 1617Hieron Wks. II. 192 These shallow and soone-drying streames of outward ioy. 1726–46Thomson Winter 50 The sun.., soon-descending, to the long dark night..the prostrate world resigns. 1886E. G. White Historical Sketches 164/2 The end so near, the warning of a soon-coming Judgment yet to be given to all nations, tongues, and peoples. 1930Auden Poems 17 Hear something of that soon-arriving day.
b.c1611Chapman Iliad ii. 590 These soon-monied wares We drave into Neleius' town. 1611Cotgr. s.v Coupe-queuë, Two short, and soone-done-words. Ibid., Messe de chasseur, a short, or soone-said Masse. 1727–46Thomson Summer 63 Rous'd by the cock, the soon clad shepherd leaves His mossy cottage. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 103 That unaspiring humility, that soon-contented moderation. 1852M. Arnold Absence 10 Each day brings its petty dust Our soon-chok'd souls to fill. 1866Howells Venetian Life xvi. 257 Soon-sated curiosity slides willingly away. 1901G. B. Shaw 3 Plays for Puritans p. xviii, An hour's soon-forgotten fuss. 1902W. B. Yeats Where there is Nothing (1903) ii. 44 Not the fighting of men in red coats, that formal, soon finished fighting, but the endless battle, the endless battle. 1925Blunden Eng. Poems 18 And hyacinth-eyes beneath soon-dropt lids. Ibid. 36 That now, this soon-come spring, goes slow and sere.
c.1961Daily Tel. 30 Aug. 10/2 He wants to appear in Belgrade at the neutralists' conference as the leader at least of a soon-to-be apparently united country. 1975Publishers Weekly 10 Nov. 51/3 Often the dying are ‘released’ by the knowledge of their soon-to-be end.
II. In the comparative form sooner.
10. a. Within a shorter time; more quickly; with less delay; at an earlier time or date.
a1225Ancr. R. 266 Þreateð þet ȝe wulleð ȝelden up þene castel bute ȝif he sende ou þe sonre help. a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 969 For he may sonner have gladnesse, Hir langour ought to be the lesse. 1382Wyclif Isaiah lviii. 8 Thin helthe sunnere shal springe. 1432Rolls of Parlt. IV. 405/2 In cas that covenable remedie ne be not sunner purveyde. 1587Queen Elizabeth in Scoones Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880) 31 Excuse my not writing sonar. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. v. 887 The Question, Why the World..was no sooner, but so lately made? 1686W. Hopkins tr. Ratramnus Diss. i. (1688) 20 Written by him, as some guess, about the Year 850, or perhaps sooner. 1780Mirror No. 105, Sometimes it returns a little sooner by royal proclamation. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 481 Sometimes it is to be done sooner, sometimes later. 1886C. E. Pascoe Lond. of To-day xxx. (ed. 3) 271 The House..sits till six, if the ‘Orders of the Day’ are not sooner disposed of.
b. Followed by than.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 240 Wel sonere..hom huy come þane huy outward wende. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 274 Sonnere hadde he saluacion þanne seint Ion þe baptist. 1382Wyclif John xx. 4 Thilke other disciple ran bifore sunner than Petre. c1450Merlin 43 Yef I wolde, I sholde fynde hym moche sonner than ye. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xvii. 396 Charlemagn seketh his dommage; and he shall have it soner than he weneth. 1566Painter Pal. Pleas. I. 47 You went soner awaye then love coulde have time to fasten uppon you. 1581G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 175 b, I pray you come sooner then you did to daie. a1639Carew Perswasion to Love Poems (1651) 3 Tis sooner past, tis sooner done Than Summers rain, or Winters Sun. 1718Entertainer No. 40. 275 Judgment may overtake him sooner than he thinks for. 1880Geikie Phys. Geog. ii. 61 Land gets sooner heated by the sun's rays than the sea.
c. sooner or later, at some time or other.
Usu. with reference to the future, and implying the certain happening of the event referred to.
1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 44 b, The stones, stickes, and suche baggage..are to be throwen out sooner or later. 1660–67[see later adv.]. 1712Addison Spect. No. 289 ⁋4 The dying Man is one whom, sooner or later, we shall certainly resemble. 1797–1805S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 427 To keep up..a correspondence in Italy, would sooner or later betray them. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. li, I have observed, that, sooner or later, they come to an evil end.
11. a. More readily or easily. Chiefly with than.
(a)a1225Ancr. R. 58 Al ȝet þat falleð to hire,..þurh hwat muhte sonre ful luue of aquiken. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 277, I thinke, if you handled her priuately She would sooner confesse. 1606― Tr. & Cr. ii. i. 17, I shal sooner rayle thee into wit and holinesse. 1664J. Wilson A. Commenius i. i, You may sooner hold An angry Lyon, with a clew of thread. 1842S. Lover Handy Andy ix, If you had a child.., no one should have the majority sooner.
(b)1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 789 Sunner he takyth for here veniaunce Þan for any oþer chaunce. c1380Wyclif Contr. Tracts Sel. Wks. III. 291 Ȝif þei weren opyn trewe men..þei schulden sunere gete pursuyng..þan fatte benefices. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, I v, He thought the Sunne would soner haue fallen from his circle, then that kyng Lewes..would haue dissimuled. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 202 Sir Thomas More..can soner bee remembred of me, then worthely praised of any. 1634Milton Comus 323 Courtesie, Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds.., then in tapstry Halls. 1678Moxon Mech. Exerc. v. §25. 92 Stuff which may be sooner Hewn than Sawn. 1817Shelley Lines to Critic iii, Thy love will move that bigot cold Sooner than me, thy hate.
b. More readily as a matter of choice; preferably, rather. Phr. (I'd) sooner (it should be) you than me, and varr. cf. rather adv. 9 f.
1457Hardyng Chron. i. in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1912) 743 Your Fadir..souner wolde suche thre as Gedyngton Hafe youe [= given] than so forgone that euydence. 1474Caxton Chesse iv. viii. (1883) 184 Certes thou oughtest sonner wille to dye..than [etc.]. 1699T. Brown in R. L'Estrange Erasm. Colloq. (1725) 333, I would sooner swop her to a Tobacco plantation. 1749Fielding Tom Jones ii. iii, I would sooner starve than take any reward for betraying your Ladyship. 1801E. Helme St. Marg. Cave I. 236, I would sooner bear my father's name..rather than be lady of this domain. 1864Trollope Can you forgive Her? I. xiv. 108 You are going down to Cheltenham, are you?.. I'd sooner it should be you than me; that's all I can say. 1885Anstey Tinted Venus 171 Why, I'd sooner stay in prison all my life! 1905H. A. Vachell Hill iii. 53 Phew-w-w!.. I'd sooner it was you than me, Verney. 1937A. Thirkell Summer Half vi. 181 ‘Good old Mr. Lorimer,’ said Swan, ‘sooner he than I.’ 1973‘J. Sturrock’ Wicked Way to Die iii. 35 ‘Talk to her I must.’ He shook his head. ‘Sooner you than me.’
12. the sooner:
a. the more quickly, speedily, or early.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 386 But þerof to haue mochyl affyaunce Þe may betyde þe sunner a chaunce. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 121 Bot it be þe sonner opned, it bryngeþ yn deth. c1440Generydes 3101 His entent the souner myght prevayle. c1440Gesta Rom. lxvi. 382 (Add. MS.), That here payne..myght be released the sonyre for his prayere. 1538Starkey England i. i. 26 That your deuyse..may the sonar optayne hys frute & effect. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. i. 15 The sooner to effect, And surer binde this knot of amitie. 1653in Verney Memoirs (1907) I. 461, I rose one hour the sooner. 1719London & Wise Compl. Gard. xxii, Hereby they will the sooner answer the design propos'd. 1831Scott Ct. Rob. iv, The soldiers joyfully mended their pace in order to meet the sooner with the supplies.
b. With co-ordinate clause or phrase containing another comparative.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxx. (Theodora) 261 Þe sonare þis be done, Þe cause sal be þe les. 1387–8T. Usk Test. Love ii. xiv. (Skeat) I. 61 Ever the deper thou somtyme wadest, the soner thou it founde. c1475Mankind 254 in Macro Plays 10 Þe sonner þe leuer, & yt be ewyn a-non! 1477Paston Lett. III. 194 The soner the better, in eschewyng of worsse. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 6 b, The hyer it ascendeth, the sooner it vanyssheth awaye. 1562Pilkington Expos. Abdyas Pref. 9 The faster a man runnes, the sooner he is wery. 1671Milton P.R. iii. 179 The happier raign the sooner it begins. 1731Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Fagus, The sooner they are sown the better, after they are fully ripe. 1824Scott Peveril xlvii, The sooner, then, the root feels the axe, the stroke is more welcome. 1837P. Keith Bot. Lex. 169 The sooner a remedy is applied to it the better. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! iv, The less said the sooner mended.
c. Followed by as or that.
In quot. 1763 the sense is ‘all the more’.
1763Museum Rust. I. 206 We think..that two pounds at least should be sown, and this the sooner, as it is a cheap seed. 1825Scott Talism. xvii, He shall die, the rather and the sooner that thou dost entreat for him.
13. a. no sooner, not earlier.
1408in Rymer Fœdera (1709) VIII. 539/1 Aftir the Entree, or the Deth of the forsaid Erle of Douglas,..and no sounere. 1482Cely Papers (Camden) 123 Here was noon passage no sooner, the wynd was so contrary. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 32 For thine owne bowels..Do curse the Gowt..and the Rheume For ending thee no sooner.
b. no sooner{ddd}, but, than, or when, = as soon as; immediately that. (Cf. 5 b.)
(a)1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 465 b, He had no soner said so, but he was had thence. 1597Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 146 Which was no sooner in hand, but the chamber began afresh to shake. 1639Ld. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 45 St. John no sooner saw him, but he stept back. 1711Addison Spect. No. 123 ⁋5 Florio was no sooner arrived at the great House.., but Eudoxus took him by the Hand. a1774Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) I. 57 She had no sooner made an end of her speech, but she withdrew. 1825Scott Talism. xxi, There has no sooner any one done me good service, but..he cancels his interest in me by some deep injury.
(b)1594Kyd Cornelia ii. 76 Like poyson that..No sooner tutcheth then it taints the blood. 1658Dryden Stanzas O. Cromwell xxiii, No sooner was the French-Man's Cause embrac'd, Than the light Monsieur the grave Don out-weigh'd. 1723Dk. Wharton True Briton No. 48, But he had no sooner labour'd himself into a tolerable knowledge of the Affairs of it, than he rode triumphant. 1807Crabbe Par. Reg. iii. 553 No sooner he began To round and redden, than away he ran. 1850Browning Christmas Eve xiii, No sooner said than out in the night!
(c)1697Dryden æneid ix. 143 No sooner had the goddess ceas'd to speak, When, lo! th' obedient ships their halsers break. 1764Goldsm. Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) I. 68 No sooner was his back turned, when a new conspiracy was set on foot.
III. In the superlative form soonest.
14. a. Most quickly, readily, etc. Now freq. (orig. telegraphese), as soon as possible.
a1225Ancr. R. 392 Al so is..þet crucifix iset ine chirche, ine swuche stude þet me hit sonest iseo. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 23 For who so may most gold brynge sunnest schal be sped to grete benefices. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xiii. 223 Þat þat raþest rypeþ, roteþ most sannest [v.rr. sonnest, sennest]. c1400Destr. Troy 1155 So may we sonyst the souerain distrye. a1425Cursor M. 16049 (Trin.), Þei biþouȝte hem..with what þing þei sonnest shulde do him þenne to dye. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxvii. 18 Quha maist it servis sall sonast repent. 1584Cogan Haven Health 133 Pertrich of all foules is most soonest digested. 1601Sir W. Cornwallis Disc. Seneca (1631) 72 The most profitable and soonest digested knowledge. 1667Milton P.L. iv. 893 Where thou mightst hope..soonest [to] recompence Dole with delight. 1771Encycl. Brit. III. 616/2 Melt them together for soft solder, which runs soonest. 1777R. Watson Philip II (1839) 255 Such troops as could be soonest drawn together, were immediately sent off. 1813Shelley Q. Mab i. 183 The spirit..may know How soonest to accomplish the great end. 1815A. Constable Let. 29 Jan. in J. Constable's Corr. (1962) I. 113 The picture you request shall be sent per soonest. 1950C. M. Kornbluth in Mag. of Fantasy & Sci. Fiction I. 4 They needed a bright and sparkling little news item..‘soonest’. 1962J. Hay in E. Queen's 16th Mystery Annual 163 ‘Bjornsson and whale to proceed soonest to Regensburg and await further orders,’ Twentypenny cabled Hawker. 1977‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon xiii. 262 Come back to London soonest prepare leave for Libya soonest terrorists blowing up all the oilwells there. 1977J. Didion Book of Common Prayer ii. xiv. 119 I'm getting you together soonest, that's definite.
b. Preceded by the.
1471Chron. White Rose (1845) 92 They dispersed..the soonest they could. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, iii. vi. 120 The gentler Gamester is the soonest winner. 1760R. Brown Compl. Farmer ii. 72 It is a grain that will grow in the ear the soonest of any, if wet.
15. with the soonest:
†a. Rather, or very, early. Obs.
†b. As soon as possible. Obs.
c. dial. Too soon.
1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 252 b, The same Julia begoonne somewhat with the soonest to have whyte heares in hir hedde. a1600Hooker Eccl. Pol. vii. xiii. §2 His admirable virtues caused him to be bishop with the soonest. 1631[see something adv. 2 f]. 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Amb. 114 That he would, with the soonest, suppress all monopolies. 1709Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1736) II. 179 Then she would be glad to marry him with the soonest. 1828Carr Craven Gloss. s.v., ‘Wi't’ soonest,’ too soon.
16. at (the) soonest, at the earliest.
1751R. Paltock P. Wilkins (1884) II. 270, I asked him then how long he should be..; he said, ‘Three days at soonest’. 1768Warburton in Hurd Lett. (1809) 410 At soonest, it will not begin, till after the next long vacation. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 190 This Dialogue could not have been composed before 390 at the soonest.
▪ II. soon, a.|suːn|
[Attributive use of prec.]
1. Taking place, coming about, happening, etc., soon or quickly; early, speedy. Freq. U.S. dial. in phr. a soon start (in the morning).
a1400Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xxv. 49 Heil, sone boote þer bale is neih. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 70, I haue proued þis ful oft tymez for to be most sone helpyng. a1470Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) ix. iv. 352/1 Soone byleuynge of lesynges bryngeth people to moche folye. 1546Langley tr. Pol. Verg. de Invent. ii. 105 The olde proverbe is true; that as soone sowing some⁓time deceaveth, so late sowing is alway naught. 1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. vii. 247 His hardned heart Smoothed the passage for their soon-depart. 1621Quarles Div. Poems, Esther iv, The proiect pleas'd the King, who made an Act To second what was said with soone effect. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 79 The soon decay I cannot impute to the Lead-sheathing. 1771Luckombe Hist. Printing 350 Having too much wooll in them..will subject them to soon hardening. 1838Holloway Prov. Dict., Soon,..the soon or early part of the night. 1891M. M. Dowie Girl in Karp. 287 A white mist, thick, in the soon-twilight to be impenetrable. 1913H. Kephart Our Southern Highlanders xiii. 296 Spell is used in the sense of while..and soon for early (‘a soon start in the morning’). 1930G. B. Johnson in B. A. Botkin Folk-Say vii. 357 Soon, early, quick, alert. ‘A soon breakfast’, ‘a soon man’. 1949H. Hornsby Lonesome Valley ii. 21 People must have got a soon start, because the place was full up already. 1951L. Craig Singing Hills iii. 18 The furrin woman wanted to get a soon start, come morning.
2. In comparative:
a. Earlier; more speedy or expeditious, etc.
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 235 But Crist tolde hem of sounere perils, þat was betere hem to knowe. 1559Mirr. Mag. (1563) D viij, Which that I myght bryng to the sooner ende, To the byshop of Yorke I dyd the mater breake. 1607in M. H. Peacock Hist. Wakefield Gram. Sch. (1892) 67 Unless in the mean tyme..a sooner daie of meetinge be appointed. 1665J. Webb Stone-Heng (1725) 90 For the sooner Dispatch, and saving of Cost. 1677Plot Oxfordsh. 110 There are no signs amongst them of sooner or later production. 1771Ann. Reg., Chron. 173/1 From the death, or any sooner determination of the interest therein, of John York, Esq. 1889Stevenson Master Ballantrae iii, Which would give us safety for the present, and a sooner hope of deliverance.
†b. Former, previous. Obs.—1
1495Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xiv. xxxiv. 480 There growe vines and..apples of palmes as token of the sooner [MS. raþer] plente.
3. In superlative:
a. Earliest. Also absol.
1591Parsons in Imp. Consid. (1675) 79 He..cannot..refuse at the soonest opportunity to attempt it. 1631Massinger Emperor East i. i, And we, in private, with our soonest leisure Will give them hearing. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. vi. 27 If they think that there may be a Soonest Instant of possible Creation. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 92, I was therefore up among the soonest.
b. Speediest; quickest. Now dial.
1591Troub. Raigne K. John ii. (1611) 73 The King entreats your soonest speed To visit him. 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. iv. iv. 110 With soonest speed I hasted to the noise. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iii. iv. 27 Make your soonest hast, So your desires are yours. 1825Jamieson Suppl. s.v., The soonest gait, the nearest road. 1897in Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v., I said that would be [the] safest..or soonest road for us to go.
▪ III. soon, n. rare.|suːn|
[Substantival use of soon a.]
The near future.
1940W. Faulkner Hamlet iii. i. 166 They are moving not toward a destination in space but a destination in time..; the sleight hand of May shapes them both, not in the immediate, the soon, but in the now.
▪ IV. soon
dial. var. of sound n. (swoon). |
