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Etymology Dictionary

Origin of the word ALREADY.  Etymology of the word ALREADY.

From An Etymology Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893

 

ALREADY,  quite ready; hence, sooner than expected.  (E. or Scand.)   Rich. shews that Udal (on Luke, c. 1) uses 'alreadie looked for' in the modern sense; but Gower, Prol. to C. A. i. 18, has al redy [badly spelt all ready in Richardson] as separate words.   Al as an adverb, with the sense of 'quite,' is common in Mid. English; and Chaucer has the phrase 'al redy was his answer;' C. T. 6607.   [So al clene = quite entirely, wholly, Rob. of Glouc. p. 407; see Mätzner's Altengl. Wörterbuch, p. 57.]   The spelling with one l is correct enough; see All.   And see Ready. [†]

ADDENDA

Probably (E.), not (Scand.).   See Ready.

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Etymology Dictionary Index
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Key
Arab.=Arabic.
A.S.=Anglo Saxon.
Bavar.=Bavarian
Bohem.=Bohemian.
C.=Celtic, used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Cornish, &c.
Corn.=Cornish.
Dan.=Danish.
Du.=Dutch
E.=English.
E.E.=Early English.
Europ.=European.
F.=French.
G.=German.
Gk.=Greek.
Goth.=Gothic.
Icel.=Icelandic.
Ital.=Italian.
L. or Lat.=Latin.
Lith. & Lithuan.=Lithuanian.
M.E.=Middle English.
M.F.=Middle French
M.H.G.=Middle High German.
Norw.=Norwegian.
O.F.=Old French.
O.H.G.=Old High German.
Pers.=Persian.
Port.=Portuguese.
Scand.=Scandinavian, used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish, &c.
Sc.=Scottish.
Skt.=Sanskrit.
Span.=Spanish.
Swed.=Sweish.
Teut.=Teutonic
Turk.=Turkish.
W.=Welsh.

  

 

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