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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TIMEOUS, adj., adv. Also tim(o)us, tym(e)ous, times-. [′təiməs]

I. adj. 1. Having regard to time, early, in good or sufficient time (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Now chiefly in Sc. Law as in phrs. timeous intimation, -notice, etc. (Sc. 1799 W. Mitchell Scotticisms 81).Sc. 1714 A. G. M. MacGregor Hist. Clan Gregor (1901) II. 271:
To attend him and his foresaids, at hosting and hunting, on tymous advertisement.Ayr. 1734 Ayr Presb. Reg. MS. (31 July):
Mr Cunninghame is to make legal and timeous intimation hereof to all concerned.Sc. c.1770 New Letters D. Hume (Klibansky and Mossner 1954) 212:
Not to be able to give them timeous or rather timely Information of his arrival.Sc. 1813 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) I. 430:
I may be disappointed in my own of which you shall have equally timeous notice.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
See that ye keep timeous hours, i.e. that ye be not too late.Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 30:
See that ye come hame in timeous hours.Sc. 1907 C. H. Ellis N.B. Railway (1955) 184:
Saloons were to be hired “on timeous notice” being given.

Hence timeously, †tym(e)ouslie, adv., in good time, early, betimes (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 139).Ags. 1700 Burgh Rec. Montrose MS. (30 Jan.):
Not paying in the poll money of the burgh tymeously.Sc. 1711 Acts of Sederunt (20 Nov.):
Any alleadgeance not proponed timeously . . . shall not be heard thereafter.Sc. 1764 in Boswell in Holland (Pottle 1952) 165:
You went timeously to bed.Abd. 1797 Aberdeen Mag. 601:
That the servants may go to bed, and get up timeously in the morning.Sc. 1822 Scott Peveril xliii.:
The best service would be timeously to disclose his plot.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller 174:
The twenty guineas you so timeously remitted.Sc. 1901 Scotsman (13 March) 11:
The defenders failing timeously to deliver coals for lading.

2. At the proper time or season, well-timed, timely (Sc. 1799 W. Mitchell Scotticisms 81).Sh. a.1725 T. Gifford Hist. Descr. Zetland (1879) 75:
That good neighbourhood be observed and keeped by timous and sufficient bigging of decks.Edb. 1767 Caled. Mercury (5 Dec.):
A fire broke out in a wright's shop but by timeous assistance was hindred from communicating with the adjoining houses.Sc. 1931 Scotsman (2 Nov.) 9:
The timeous alarm was given by the cook.

¶3. Marking time to music, keeping in measure.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 112:
Never yet to mortal measures Raise and fell sic timous feet.

II. adv. Early, in good time, betimes.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 17:
Right timeous ye've been i' the fair.Uls. 1892 Ballymena Obs. (E.D.D.):
A'll be up gye an' timus in the mornin'.