Soon adv.

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.

1434.  Misyn, Mending Life, 124. [It] soyne is cast bak.

1489.  Barbour’s Bruce, IV. 367. In-to Kentyre soyn cumin ar thai.

1572.  Mem., in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 23. How shoin perceaved [etc.].

c. 1746.  J. 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.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 1090. Thai sall swne tyne ma.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 416. How suin he [it] … ressauet had.

1792.  Burns, ‘I do confess thou art sae fair,’ 15. Yet sune thou shalt be thrown aside.

1832.  W. Stephenson, Gateshead Local Poems, 100. This conceited noisy pair, Will suen myek ye knock under.

1894.  R. Reid, Kirkbride, i. Poems 1. This puir dune 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.

1489.  Barbour’s Bruce, I. 566. The endentur … soune schawyt the iniquite.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 8. Schowne thair fell ane gret varience.

  δ.  7 seaun, 8 sean, 9 seean, seen.

1684.  Yorks. Dial., 3 (E.D.S. No. 76), 152. Seaun, seaun,… bring my Skeel.

1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial., 86. Awr Courtship wod sean hae been at an end.

1871.  W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, xxi. 159. They’ll seen get their sairin’ o’ him an’s mither tee.

1876.  Robinson, Whitby Gloss., 165/1. It may as weel come seean as syne.

  3.  Compar. 3 sonre, 4 sonnere, 4–5 sonner (5 sonder, sonnere); 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.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter lxix. 4. Sien forcerred sona [L. statim] & scomiende.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, trans. Gregory’s Past. C., 196. Ac he him sona ond wyrde, & him swiðe stiernlice stierde.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 15. He þa sona instæpes ʓeseh, & þa sona wæs Drihtne fylʓende.

a. 1030.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 40. Þane þonne onginð, sona [L. mox] ealle mid arwurðnessa arison.

1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1135. Aʓenes him risen sona þa ricemen þe wæron swikes.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1221. Abraham rapede him sone in sped for to fulfillen godes reed.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2995. He did to cal habraham son, And said, ‘qui has þou þusgat don?’

1340.  Ayenb., 173. Efterward þe dyaþ … him ssel sterie zone him to ssrive.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 48. Þene he asoylede hire soone, and siþ to hire seide [etc.].

c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 57. Alexander, coueyte noght þinges coruptibles … þat þou most sone forsake.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 142. Sone was the Supper dicht, and the fyre bet.

1513.  More, Edw. V. (1641), 8. Whose life he looked that ill dyet would soone shorten.

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., viii. 31. Cum, sweir þe saikles sone.

1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 176. We found … that the King’s good will became soon diverted.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 777/146.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, iii. The day soon arrived on which we were to disperse.

1796.  H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 552. We shall soon have … the exhibition of a museum at the Tuilleries.

1831.  Scott, Ct. Robt., xxxii. With … eyes dimmed by the powerful idea of soon parting with the light of day.

1841.  Penny Cycl., XXI. 173/1. The rout soon became general.

1875.  Jowett, 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.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter xxxvi. 20. Feond … dryhtnes sona [L. mox] ʓearade & upahefene biað.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 21. Ne he hine na ne onstyreþ, syþþan seo unʓesynelice sawl him of biþ; ac sona he molsnaþ.

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 99. Ȝif hie cumeð fram dieule, prudencia hes icnauð sone.

a. 1275.  Prov. Ælfred, 630, in O. E. Misc., 136. Buch þe from þi sete, & bide him sone þer-to.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 78. Wo so dede hem wrong or lath,… He dede hem sone to hauen ricth.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 109. So that it proeveth wel therfore, The strengthe of man is sone lore.

1445.  in Anglia, XXVIII. 271. Wherfore thou preventist tyme, and soon thi bowntee shewist.

1450–80.  trans. Secreta Secret., iv. 7. His Rewme may not stonde longe in prosperite but sone come to distruccioun.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. ii. 47. The body, yf hyt be not strong, sone … ys oppressyd & ouerthrowne.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 647 (1594), E 4 b. Small lightes are soone blown out, huge fires abide.

1633.  P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., IV. xxxii. 45.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 286. This species soon takes to build in artificial cavities.

1812.  New Botanic Garden, I. 44. They very soon take root.

1855.  Orr’s Circ. Sci., Geol., etc. 240. This gas … soon mixes with the air around.

  Prov.  1530.  Palsgr., 885/1. Sone hotte sone colde.

1546–.  [see RIPE a. 1 c].

c. 1580.  Jefferie, Bugbears, IV. v. 58. Lyttle sayd, sone amended.

1670.  Ray, Prov., 285. Little said, soon mendit.

1861.  Mayhew, Lond. Labour, III. 391. Soon got, soon gone.

  † c.  Till soon, for a short time. Obs.

1526.  Skelton, Magnyf., 322. Fare you well tyll sone.

1533.  J. Heywood, Pardoner & Frere, Plays (1905), 17. Canst not tarry and abide till soon, And read them then when preaching is done?

1592.  Kyd, 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-, EFTSOON(S.

a. 900.  O. E. Chron., an. 797 (Parker MS.). And þa sona eft … he meahte ʓeseon & sprecan.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Mark xiv. 72. And sona efter se hona ʓesang.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron., an. 1101. And þa sona þæræfter wurdon þa heafodmen … wiðer-ræden toʓeanes þam cynge.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 7256. And sone siþþenn sennde he forþ Þatt Kalldewisshe genge.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8277. Ȝut sone þer after an oþer com al so.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 68. Als yhe sal here aftirward sone.

c. 1450.  Myrr. our Ladye, 30. They shulde … often fynde themselfe better at ease sone after.

c. 1450.  Brut, ccxlii. 359. Sone aftirward riȝt þere he made his ende.

1577.  Harrison, Descr. Brit., I. xi. Soone after also it taketh in a rillet called the Bure.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 21 Oct. 1632. I was soone afterwards sent for into Surrey.

1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, I. 182. Soon after, Lionel, galloping across the park, hastily dismounted.

1845.  Nicolas, Mem. Chaucer, in C.’s Wks., I. 32. Soon after, he was twice paid 40s. … for his half yearly Robes.

1875.  Encycl. 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.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxiv. 29. Sona … æfter costunge daʓana ðara.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Satan, 630. Sona æfter þæm wordum.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 3332. Sone anan affterr þatt he Wass borenn þær to manne.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 3777. Aftir the calme the trouble soune Mote folowe.

c. 1500.  Melusine, v. (1890), 27. And soone aftir that he had kyssed hym, he … lepe vpon his hors.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 66. Soone after which, three hundred Lordes he slew Of British bloud.

1779.  Mirror, No. 65. 257. Soon after he returned to his native country, he married Lady C——.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott, I. viii. 247. The young kinsman was introduced to her soon after her arrival at Mertoun.

1879.  R. Morris, Chaucer’s Prol., etc. (ed. 6), p. xii. Perhaps now, or perhaps soon after the loss of his office.

  3.  Early, betimes; before the time specified or referred to is much advanced.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3045. Sun on þe morn, quen it was dai.

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 23. I went soon To bedde. Ibid. (c. 1385), L. G. W., 1637, Hypsipyle. To come sone at nyght Vn-to hire chambir.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., I. iv. 8. We’ll have a posset for ’t soone at night.

1616.  B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, I. i. As you make your soone at nights relation.

1697.  trans. Trav. C’tess D’Anois (1706), 45. I rose in effect very soon next Morning.

c. 1746.  [see A. 2 α].

1807.  Wordsw., ‘The world is too much with us,’ 1. Late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.

1859.  Bartlett, 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.

1619.  A. Gil, Logon. Angl. (1621), 34. Quikli citò, süner … citiùs, sünest … citissimè: nam sün, hodie apud plurimos significat ad primam vesperam, olim citò.

1674.  Ray, N. C. Words, 44. Soon: the Evening: A soon, at Even. [Hence in later glossaries.]

  c.  At an early stage, date, period, etc.

1615.  W. Lawson, Country Housew. Gard. (1626), 37. Soone crookes the tree that good Camrell must bee.

1664.  Pepys, 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.

1771.  Luckombe, Hist. Printing, 125. The Abby of St. Albans had printing there very soon.

1876.  Gladstone, 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)  c. 897.  K. Ælfred, trans. Gregory’s Past. C., 431. Sona swa ic anwoc, swa wilnode ic eft wines.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 37. Sona swa þu ʓeseo nacodne wædlan, þonne ʓeʓyre þu hine.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron., an. 1100. Sona swa se eorl Rotbert into Normandiʓ com.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 6450. Sone swa þatt steorrne stod Þa kingess wel itt sæȝhenn.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 476. Sone se ich seh þe leome of þe soðe lare.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5897. He baptised þis aeldred sone so he was ybore.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 226. Was neuere gome … Fairer vnder-fongen … Þan my-self sothly sone so he wist.

  (b)  c. 1200.  Ormin, 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)  c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 329. Sone ȝe it ðor-of hauen eten, Al ȝe it sulen witent.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1354. Sone it was day, sone he him cladde.

  † b.  So soon so. Obs.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 53. Swa sone se hi beoð iturnd awey from heom?

a. 1250.  Owl & 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.

1377.  Langl., 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. 1.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 225. As sone as we were ymaked, oure maister was so prout.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 63. Ac as sone so þe samaritan hadde sighte of þat syke, He alyghte a-non.

a. 1400.  Theophilus, xxxi. As sone as he herde of þat tiding, He rapede hym wel swithe.

1445.  in Anglia, XXVIII. 277. Thei wrey thin enemyes to þe as sone as þei the see banke touche.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. xvii. Assone as the wynter shalle come thow shalt deye.

1548.  Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark i. (1552), 121. Assone as Jesus was aduertised thereof.

1577.  Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb., § 41. As soone as your Rape seede is of,… you may sowe … Branke as they call it.

1607.  Hieron, Wks., I. 259. Andrew, who assoone as hee had found Christ, went to call Peter.

1642.  D. Rogers, Naaman, 90. Asoone as they feele their need.

1654–66.  Earl Orrery, Parthenissa (1676), 629. As soon as ever I understood … I made him humble retributions.

1710.  Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, v. 282. This Law … fell into disuse assoon as made.

1764.  T. Hutchinson, Hist. Col. Mass., i. (1765), 58. Assoon as they knew the terms, they fled into the woods.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, III. iii. 69. ‘Madame Montoni is now dying, sir,’ said Emily, as soon as she saw him.

1861.  M. 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.

c. 1330.  Assump. Virg. (B.M. MS.), 157. So sone as sche hadde doun, Newe cloþes sche dide hure apoun.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 43. Þe same freris ben holden to renne to hem also sone as þei may.

1465.  Paston Lett., I. 132. Al so sone as I come to the Blakheth, the capteyn made the comens to take me.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 166 b. The Frenche kyng, so sone as he heard therof, kepte a solempne funerall.

1588.  R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 359. So soone as their inditement was read, and iudgement giuen.

1637.  3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 75/1. The Dunkirkers, so soon as they made out what I was, took in their flag.

1700.  Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 823. So soon as the Death of King John was … known.

1751.  R. Paltock, P. Wilkins (1884), II. 243. So soon as he was without the territory of the palace.

1818.  Colebrooke, Treat. Obligations & Contracts, 14. The article … is sold so soon as the parties have consented.

1882.  J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 8. So soon as the formal consent of Edward had been obtained.

  e.  Soon as. Now poet.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 8167 (Fairf.). Sone as he þe king had knawen, welcome he saide.

1640.  Habington, Edw. IV., 24. She was repulst by the inhabitants soone as she landed.

1658.  Dryden, Cromwell, vii. Nor was his Vertue poison’d, soon as born.

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. xix. 13. IV. 165.

1801.  Lusignan, II. 85. [She] had hitherto communicated every thought soon as it had birth.

1885–94.  R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, Aug. xxx. The which she knew, soon as she heard the name.

  f.  How soon (as). Sc. Obs.

1557.  Peebles Burgh Rec. (1872), 236. To be deliuerit … quhowsone he be requirit thairto.

1563.  Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 124. Quhow sone as a sinnar is resauit … to mercy.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. 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.  So soon, so quickly, so early. Also followed by as.

  (a)  c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 86. Þurch min hert … Ywounded haþ he me So sone.

1382.  Wyclif, Gal. i. 6. I wondre, that thus so soone ȝe ben born ouer fro him.

1535.  Coverdale, Exod. ii. 18. How came ye so soone to daie?

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 191. What, all so soone asleepe?

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. iii. 1131. Which way came I Through so immense a space so soon?

1772.  Hist. Rochester, 27. Too large a work to be compleated so soon as these accounts seem to intimate.

1828.  Lytton, Pelham, III. iii. If you are going so soon, honour me by accepting my arm.

  (b)  1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 332. Where so soon As in our native Language can I find that solace?

  † b.  Not so soon … (that) or but (that), = no sooner … than (see 13 b). Obs.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 171. This word was noght so sone spoke, That his on yhe anon was loke.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 71 b. Appollo had not so sone finysshid these wordes but that alle they … cryed [etc.].

1549.  Cheke, Hurt Sedit. (1641), 60. The husbandman had not so soone throwne seed in his ground, but steppeth up the enimy.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. 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.

1605.  Camden, 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.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 3842. For Shame to longe hath be thee froo; Over soone she was agoo.

c. 1513.  Skelton, Agst. Scottes, 130. Vnto the castell of Norram … to sone ye came.

1599.  Shaks., etc. Pass. Pilgr., xii. B 4. Faire creature kilde too soon by Deaths sharpè sting.

1617.  Sir W. Mure, Misc. Poems, xviii. Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 38. Too sone, (alace!) … Thy pairt is acted on this wordlie stage.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, i. (1840), 3. This fell out something too soon.

1821.  Shelley, Adonais, xxvii. Why didst thou leave the trodden paths of men Too soon?

1870.  E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. 205. It was not a moment too soon.

1902.  Skeat, Havelok, p. xvii. A curious instance of anticipation, i. e. the too soon writing down of a coming letter.

  b.  Followed by enough.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 114. Not layinge before theyr eyes, thys wyse prouerbe: Sone ynough, if wel ynough.

1685.  Gracian’s Courtiers Orac., 56. Soon enough, if well enough, said a Wise Man.

1784.  Cowper, 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).

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., E j b. He and his folowed so quickly after, that they were almost at y^e gates as sone as the Ambassadors.

1594.  Davies, Orchestra, xli. The Moon … ends her Pavin thirteen times as soon as doth her brother.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 1016. From thence [I] can soar as soon To the corners of the Moon. Ibid. (1667), P. L., IV. 464. I soon returnd;… it returnd as soon with answering looks.

1691.  Norris, 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.)

1585.  Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 23. He stays assone, and in his mynde doeth cast What way to take.

  † c.  As soon…, as soon, at one time…, at another; now…, again. Obs.

1581.  Pettie, trans. 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.

1647.  Trapp, Marrow Gd. Authors, in Comm. Ep., 715. He [Erasmus] was as soon with Protestants, and as soon with Papists, and so was well thought of on neither side, lost his good esteem with all.

  8.  As soon (as): a. As readily; as willingly. Also so soon as.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 52. Ile beleeue as soone This whole earth may be bord. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., I. ii. 201. Yet … I do not know the man I should auoyd So soone as that spare Cassius.

1702.  Vanbrugh, False Friend, II. i. I’d as soon undertake to keep Portocarero honest.

1775.  Sheridan, St. Patr. Day, II. iv. I had as soon recover, notwithstanding. Ibid. (1777), Sch. Scand., I. i. For he’ll abuse a stranger just as soon as his best friend.

1816.  Whewell, in Mrs. S. Douglas, Life (1881), 22. I had as soon be beaten by him as by anybody else.

1825.  Scott, Talism., x. They would march under the banner of Satan as soon.

  b.  With as much reason or probability.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gentl., II. vii. 19. Thou wouldst as soone goe kindle fire with snow As seeke to quench the fire of Loue with words.

1670.  Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 86–7. They may as soon expect comfort and consolation from him that lies rack’d with the Gout and Stone, as from a Divine thus broken and shatter’d in his fortunes.

1815.  Shelley, Alastor, 509. Measureless ocean may declare as soon … as the universe Tell [etc.].

  c.  Used to suggest denial of a statement.

1590.  Shaks., 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-believing, -descending, -drying, etc.; soon-choked, -clad, -contented, etc.

  a.  1581.  Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 34. The soone repenting pride of Agamemnon.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. i. 60. A dram of poyson, such soone speeding geare. Ibid. (1593), Rich. II., I. i. 101. His soone beleeuing aduersaries.

1616.  Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Thirsis in Dispraise of Beauty, i. Soone-fading Beautie, which of Hues doth rise.

1617.  Hieron, Wks., II. 192. These shallow and soone-drying streames of outward ioy.

1726–46.  Thomson, Winter, 50. The sun…, soon-descending, to the long dark night … the prostrate world resigns.

  b.  1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XI. 590/154. These soone-monied wares, We draue into Neleus towne.

1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Coupe-queuë, Two short, and soone-done-words. Ibid., Messe de chasseur, a short, or soone-said Masse.

1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 63. Rous’d by the cock, the soon clad shepherd leaves His mossy cottage.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 103. That unaspiring humility, that soon-contented moderation.

1852.  M. Arnold, Absence, 10. Each day brings its petty dust Our soon-chok’d souls to fill.

1866.  Howells, Venetian Life, xvi. 257. Soon-sated curiosity slides willingly away.

  II.  In the comparative form sooner.

  10.  Within a shorter time; more quickly; with less delay; at an earlier time or date.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 266. Þreateð þet ȝe wulleð ȝelden up þene castel bute ȝif he sende ou þe sonre help.

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 969. For he may sonner have gladnesse, Hir langour ought to be the lesse.

1382.  Wyclif, Isaiah lviii. 8. Thin helthe sunnere shal springe.

1432.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 405/2. In cas that covenable remedie ne be not sunner purveyde.

1587.  Q. Elizabeth, in Scoones, Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880), 31. Excuse my not writing sonar.

1678.  Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. v. 887. The Question, Why the World … was no sooner, but so lately made?

1686.  W. Hopkins, trans. Ratramnus, Diss. i. (1688), 20. Written by him, as some guess, about the Year 850. or perhaps sooner.

1780.  Mirror, No. 105. 420. Sometimes it returns a little sooner by royal proclamation.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 481. Sometimes it is to be done sooner, sometimes later.

1886.  C. 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.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 240. Wel sonere … hom huy come þane huy outward wende.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 274. Sonnere hadde he saluacion þanne seint Ion þe baptist.

1382.  Wyclif, John xx. 4. Thilke other disciple ran bifore sunner than Petre.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 43. Yef I wolde, I sholde fynde hym moche sonner than ye.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xvii. 396. Charlemagn seketh his dommage; and he shall have it soner than he weneth.

1566.  Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. 47. You went soner awaye then love coulde have time to fasten uppon you.

1581.  Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., III. (1586), 175 b. I pray you come sooner then you did to daie.

a. 1639[?].  Carew, Perswasion to Love, Poems (1651), 3. Tis sooner past, tis sooner done Than Summers rain, or Winters Sun.

1718.  Entertainer, No. 40. 275. Judgment may overtake him sooner than he thinks for.

1880.  Geikie, 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.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 44 b. The stones, stickes, and suche baggage … are to be throwen out sooner or later.

1660–7.  [see LATER adv.].

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 289, ¶ 4. The dying Man is one whom, sooner or later, we shall certainly resemble.

1797–1805.  S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 427. To keep up … a correspondence in Italy, would sooner or later betray them.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., li. I have observed, that, sooner or later, they come to an evil end.

  11.  More readily or easily. Chiefly with than.

  (a)  a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 58. Al ȝet þat falleð to hire,… þurh hwat muhte sonre ful luue of aquiken.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 277. I thinke, if you handled her priuately She would sooner confesse. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., II. i. 17. I shal sooner rayle thee into wit and holinesse.

1664.  J. Wilson, A. Comnenius, I. i. 5. You may sooner hold An angry Lyon, with a clew of thread.

1842.  S. Lover, Handy Andy, ix. If you had a child…, no one should have the majority sooner.

  (b)  1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 789. Sunner he takyth for here veniaunce Þan for any oþer chaunce.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Contr. Tracts, Sel. Wks. III. 291. Ȝif þei weren opyn trewe men … þei schulden sunere gete pursuyng … þan fatte benefices.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., I v. He thought the Sunne would soner haue fallen from his circle, then that kyng Lewes … would haue dissimuled.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 202. Sir Thomas More … can soner bee remembred of me, then worthely praised of any.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 323. Courtesie, Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds…, then in tapstry Halls.

1678.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., V. § 25. 92. Stuff which may be sooner Hewn than Sawn.

1817.  Shelley, 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.

1457.  Hardyng, Chron., i. in Eng. Hist. Rev., Oct. (1912), 743. He [your Fadir] … sonner wolde suche thre as Gedyngton Hafe youe [= given] than so forgone that euydence.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, IV. viii. (1883), 184. Certes thou oughtest sonner wille to dye … than [etc.].

1699.  T. Brown, in R. L’Estrange, Erasm. Colloq. (1725), 333. I would sooner swop her to a Tobacco plantation.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, II. iii. I would sooner starve than take any reward for betraying your Ladyship.

1801.  Eliz. Helme, St. Marg. Cave, I. 236. I would sooner bear my father’s name … rather than be lady of this domain.

1885.  ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, 171. Why, I ’d sooner stay in prison all my life!

  12.  The sooner, the more quickly, speedily or early.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 386. But þerof to haue mochyl affyaunce Þe may betyde þe sunner a chaunce.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 121. Bot it be þe sonner opned, it bryngeþ yn deth.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 3101. His entent the souner myght prevayle.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., lxvi. 382 (Add. MS.). That here payne … myght be released the sonyre for his prayere.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. i. 26. That your deuyse … may the sonar optayne hys frute & effect.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. i. 15. The sooner to effect, And surer binde this knot of amitie.

1653.  in Verney Memoirs (1907), I. 461. I rose one hour the sooner.

1719.  London & Wise, Compl. Gard., xxii. Hereby they will the sooner answer the design propos’d.

1831.  Scott, Ct. Robt., 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.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxx. (Theodora), 261. Þe sonare þis be done, Þe cause sal be þe les.

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, II. xiv. (Skeat), l. 61. Ever the deper thou somtyme wadest, the soner thou it founde.

c. 1475.  Mankind, 254, in Macro Plays, 10. Þe sonner þe leuer, & yt be ewyn a-non!

1477.  Paston Lett., III. 194. The soner the better, in eschewyng of worsse.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 6 b. The hyer it ascendeth, the sooner it vanyssheth awaye.

1562.  Pilkington, Expos. Abdyas, Pref. 9. The faster a man runnes, the sooner he is wery.

1671.  Milton, P. R., III. 179. The happier raign the sooner it begins.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Fagus, The sooner they are sown the better, after they are fully ripe.

1824.  Scott, Pev., xlvii. The sooner, then, the root feels the axe, the stroke is more welcome.

1837.  P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 169. The sooner a remedy is applied to it the better.

1855.  Kingsley, Westw. Ho! iv. The less said the sooner mended.

  c.  Followed by as or that.

  In quot. 1763 the sense is ‘all the more.’

1763.  Museum Rust., I. 206. We think … that two pounds at least should be sown, and this the sooner, as it is a cheap seed.

1825.  Scott, Talism., xvii. He shall die, the rather and the sooner that thou dost entreat for him.

  13.  No sooner, not earlier.

1408.  in Rymer Fœdera (1709), VIII. 539/1. Aftir the Entree, or the Deth of the forsaid Erle of Douglas,… and no sounere.

1482.  Cely Papers (Camden), 123. Here was noon passage no sooner, the wynd was so contrary.

1603.  Shaks., 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…, but, than, or when, = as soon as; immediately that. (Cf. 5 b.)

  (a)  1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 465 b. He had no soner said so, but he was had thence.

1597.  Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 146. Which was no sooner in hand, but the chamber began afresh to shake.

1639.  Ld. Digby, Lett. conc. Relig. (1651), 54. St. John no sooner saw him, but he stept back.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 123, ¶ 5. Florio was no sooner arrived at the great House…, but Eudoxus took him by the Hand.

a. 1774.  Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), I. 57. She had no sooner made an end of her speech, but she withdrew.

1825.  Scott, Talism., xxi. There has no sooner any one done me good service, but … he cancels his interest in me by some deep injury.

  (b)  1594.  Kyd, Cornelia, II. 76. B 3. Like poyson that (once lighting in the body) No sooner tutcheth then it taints the blood.

1658.  Dryden, Stanzas O. Cromwell, xxiii. No sooner was the French-Man’s Cause embrac’d, Than the light Monsieur the grave Don outweigh’d.

1723.  Dk. 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.

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 553. No sooner he began To round and redden, than away he ran.

1850.  Browning, Christmas Eve, xiii. No sooner said than out in the night!

  (c)  1697.  Dryden, Æneid, IX. 143. No sooner had the goddess ceas’d to speak, When, lo! th’ obedient ships their halsers break.

1764.  Goldsm., 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.  Most quickly, readily, etc.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 392. Al so is … þet crucifix iset ine chirche, ine swuche stude þet me hit sonest iseo.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 23. For who so may most gold brynge sunnest schal be sped to grete benefices.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XIII. 223. Þat þat raþest rypeþ, roteþ most sannest [v.rr. sonnest, sennest].

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1155. So may we sonyst the souerain distrye.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 16049 (Trin.). Þei biþouȝte hem … with what þing þei sonnest shulde do him þenne to dye.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lxvii. 18. Quha maist it servis sall sonast repent.

1584.  Cogan, Haven Health, 133. Pertrich of all foules is most soonest digested.

1601.  Sir W. Cornwallis, Disc. Seneca (1631), 72. The most profitable and soonest digested knowledge.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 893. Where thou mightst hope … soonest [to] recompence Dole with delight.

1771.  Encycl. Brit., III. 616/2. Melt them together for soft solder, which runs soonest.

1777.  R. Watson, Philip II. (1839), 255. Such troops as could be soonest drawn together, were immediately sent off.

1813.  Shelley, Q. Mab, I. 183. The spirit … may know How soonest to accomplish the great end.

  b.  Preceded by the.

1471.  Chron. White Rose (1845), 92. They dispersed … the soonest they could.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. vi. 120. The gentler Gamester is the soonest winner.

1760.  R. 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.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 252 b. The same Iulia begoonne somewhat with the soonest to haue whyte heares in hir hedde.

a. 1600.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. xiii. § 2. His admirable virtues caused him to be bishop with the soonest.

1631.  [see SOMETHING adv. 2 f].

1662.  J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 114. That he would, with the soonest, suppress all monopolies.

1709.  Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1736), II. 179. Then she would be glad to marry him with the soonest.

1828.  Carr, Craven Gloss., s.v., ‘Wi’ t’ soonest,’ too soon.

  16.  At (the) soonest, at the earliest.

1751.  R. Paltock, P. Wilkins (1884), II. 270. I asked him then how long he should be…; he said, ‘Three days at soonest.’

1768.  Warburton, in Hurd, Lett. (1809), 410. At soonest, it will not begin, till after the next long vacation.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 190. This Dialogue could not have been composed before 390 at the soonest.