Classes Abstract Relations Time Relative Time
Relative Time
Verbs
precede, come before
forerun
go before etc. (lead) [Going before.] Precession
preexist
dawn
presage etc. Prediction
herald, usher in. be beforehand etc. (be early) Earliness
steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall
have the start, gain the start.
Adjectives
prior, previous
preceding, precedent
anterior, antecedent
pre-existing, pre-existent
former, foregoing
aforementioned, before-mentioned, abovementioned
aforesaid, said
introductory etc. (precursory) Precursor .
Adverbs
before, prior to
earlier
previously etc. adj.
afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile
ere then, ere now, before then, before now
erewhile, already, yet, beforehand
on the eve of.
Verbs
follow after etc. [Going after.] Sequence
succeed, supervene
ensue, occur
step into the shoes of.
Adjectives
subsequent, posterior, following, after, later, succeeding, postliminious, postnate
postdiluvial, postdiluvian
puisne
posthumous
future etc. [Prospective time.] Futurity
afterdinner, postprandial.
Adverbs
subsequently, after, afterwards, since, later
at a subsequent, at a later period, at a later date
next, in the sequel, close upon, thereafter, thereupon, upon which, eftsoons
from that time, from that moment
after a while, after a time
in process of time.
Nouns
the present, the present time, the present day, the present moment, the present juncture, the present occasion
the times, the existing time, the time being
today, these days, nowadays, our times, modern times, the twentieth century
nonce, crisis, epoch, day, hour. age, time of life.
Adjectives
present, actual, instant, current, existing, extant, that is
present-day, up-to-date, up-to-the-moment.
Adverbs
at this time, at this moment etc. [Point of time] Instantaneity
at the present time etc. n.
now, at present
at hand. at this time of day, today, nowadays
already
even now, but now, just now
on the present occasion
for the time being, for the nonce
on the nail, on the spot
on the spur of the moment, until now
to this day, to the present day.
Phrases
the present hour alone is man's" [Johnson] .
Nouns
different time, other time. [Indefinite time] aorist.
Adverbs
at that time, at which time, at that moment, at that instant
then, on that occasion, upon
not now, some other time. when
whenever, whensoever
upon which, on which occasion
at another time, at a different time, at some other time, at any time
at various times
some one of these days, one of these days, one fine morning
eventually, some day, by and by, sooner or later
some time or other
once upon a time.
Nouns
synchronism
coexistence, coincidence
simultaneousness, simultaneity etc. adj.
concurrence, concomitance, unity of time, interim. [Having equal times] isochronism. contemporary, coetanian.
Verbs
coexist, concur, accompany, go hand in hand, keep pace with
synchronize.
Adjectives
synchronous, synchronal, synchronic, synchronical, synchronistical
simultaneous, coexisting, coincident, concomitant, concurrent
coeval, coevous
contemporary, contemporaneous
coetaneous
coeternal
isochronous.
Adverbs
at the same time
simultaneously etc. adj.
together, in concert, during the same time
in the same breath
in the interim
as one. at the very moment etc. [Point of time] Instantaneity
just as, as soon as
meanwhile etc. (while) Time .
Nouns
futurity, futurition
future, hereafter, time to come
approaching time, coming time, subsequent time, after time, approaching age, coming age, subsequent age, after age, approaching days, coming days, subsequent days, after days, approaching hours, coming hours, subsequent hours, after hours, approaching ages, coming ages, subsequent ages, after ages, approaching life, coming life, subsequent life, after life, approaching years, coming years, subsequent years, after years
morrow
millennium, doomsday, day of judgment, crack of doom, remote future. approach of time advent, time drawing on, womb of time
destiny etc. Destiny
eventuality. heritage, heirs posterity. prospect etc. (expectation) Expectation
foresight etc. Foresight .
Verbs
look forwards
anticipate etc. (expect) Expectation , (foresee) Foresight
forestall etc. (be early) Earliness . come on, draw on
draw near
approach, await, threaten
impend etc. (be destined) Destiny .
Adjectives
future, to come
coming etc. (impending) Destiny
next, near
close at hand
eventual, ulterior
in prospect etc. (expectation) Expectation .
Adverbs
prospectively, hereafter, in future
kal, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow
in course of time, in process of time, in the fullness of time
eventually, ultimately, sooner or later
in after time
one of these days
after a time, after a while. from this time
henceforth, henceforwards
thence
thenceforth, thenceforward
whereupon, upon which. soon etc. (early) Earliness
on the eve of, on the point of, on the brink of
about to
close upon.
Nouns
the past, past time
days of yore, times of yore, days of old, times of old, days past, times past, days gone by, times gone by
bygone days
old times, ancient times, former times
fore time
the good old days, the olden time, good old time
auld lang syne
eld. antiquity, antiqueness, status quo
time immemorial
distance of time
remote age, remote time
remote past
rust of antiquity. [study of the past] paleontology, paleography, paleology
paleozoology
palaetiology, archaeology
paleogeography
paleoecology
paleobotany
paleoclimatoogy
archaism, antiquarianism, medievalism, Pre-Raphaelitism
paleography. retrospect, retrospection, looking back
medievalist, Pre-Raphaelite
antiquary, antiquarian
archmologist etc.
Oldbuck, Dryasdust. ancestry etc. (paternity) Paternity .
Verbs
be past etc. adj.
have expired etc. adj. , have run its course, have had its day
pass
pass by, go by, pass away, go away, pass off, go off
lapse, blow over. look back, trace back, cast the eyes back
exhume.
Adjectives
past, gone, gone by, over, passed away, bygone, foregone
elapsed, lapsed, preterlapsed, expired, no more, run out, blown over, has-been, that has been, extinct, antediluvian, antebellum, never to return, gone with the wind, exploded, forgotten, irrecoverable
obsolete etc. (old) Oldness . former, pristine, quondam, late
ancestral. foregoing
last, latter
recent, over night
preterperfect, preterpluperfect. looking back etc. v.
retrospective, retroactive
archaeological etc. n..
Adverbs
paleo-
archaeo-
formerly
of old, of yore
whilom, erewhile, time was, ago, over
in the olden time etc. n.
anciently, long ago, long since
a long while, a long time ago
years ago, yesteryear, ages ago
some time ago, some time since, some time back. yesterday, the day before yesterday
last year, ultimo
lately etc. (newly) Newness . retrospectively
ere now, before now, till now
hitherto, heretofore
no longer
once, once upon a time
from time immemorial, from prehistoric times
in the memory of man
time out of mind
already, yet, up to this time
ex post facto.
Phrases
time was
the time has been, the time hath been
you can't go home again
O call back yesterday, bid time return" [Richard II]
what's past is prologue" [Tempest]
whose yesterdays look backward with a smile" [Young] .
Nouns
newness etc. adj.
novelty, recency
immaturity
youth etc. Youth
gloss of novelty. innovation
renovation etc. (restoration) Restoration . modernism
mushroom, parvenu
latest fashion.
Adjectives
new, novel, recent, fresh, green
young etc. Youth
evergreen
raw, immature, unsettled, yeasty
virgin
untried, unhandseled, untrodden, untrod, unbeaten
fire-new, span-new. late, modern, neoteric, hypermodern, nouveau
new-born, nascent, neonatal [Med.] , new-fashioned, new-fangled, new-fledged
of yesterday
just out, brand-new, up to date, up to the minute, with it, fashionable, in fashion
in, hip [Coll.]
vernal, renovated, sempervirent, sempervirid. fresh as a rose, fresh as a daisy, fresh as paint
spick and span.
Adverbs
newly etc. adj.
afresh, anew, lately, just now, only yesterday, the other day
latterly, of late. not long ago, a short time ago.
Nouns
oldness etc. adj.
age, antiquity
cobwebs of antiquity. maturity
decline, decay
senility etc. Age . seniority, eldership, primogeniture. archaism etc. (the past) [Retrospective time.] The Past
thing of the past, relic of the past
megatherium
Sanskrit. tradition, prescription, custom, immemorial usage, common law.
Verbs
be old etc. adj.
have had its day, have seen its day
become old etc. adj.
age, fade, senesce.
Adjectives
old, ancient, antique
of long standing, time-honored, venerable
elder, eldest
firstborn. prime
primitive, primeval, primigenous
paleolontological, paleontologic, paleoanthropological, paleoanthropic, paleolithic, primordial, primordinate
aboriginal etc. (beginning) Beginning
diluvian, antediluvian
protohistoric
prehistoric
antebellum, colonial, precolumbian
patriarchal, preadamite
paleocrystic
fossil, paleozoolical, paleozoic, preglacial, antemundane
archaic, classic, medieval, Pre-Raphaelite, ancestral, black-letter. immemorial, traditional, prescriptive, customary, whereof the memory of man runneth not to the whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary
inveterate, rooted. antiquated, of other times, rococo, of the old school, after-age, obsolete
out of date, out of fashion, out of it
stale, old-fashioned, behind the age
old-world
exploded
gone out, gone by
passe, run out
senile etc. Age
time worn
crumbling etc. (deteriorated) Deterioration
secondhand. old as the hills, old as Methuselah, old as Adam, old as history. [geological eras (list, starting at given number of years bp) ] Archeozoic [Intrinsicality , , Proterozoic [Existence , Sage , , Paleozoic [Will , , Mesozoic [Exteriority , , Cenozoic [[Interrupted sequence.] Discontinuity . [geological periods] Precambrian, Cambrian [Will , , Ordovician [Sage , , Silurian [Variegation , , Devonian [Fragrance , , Mississippian [[Channel for the passage of water.] Conduit , Pennsylvanian [[Forcible ingress.] Insertion , Permian [Transference , , Triassic [Exteriority , , Jurassic [[Indefinite space.] Space , Cretaceous [Untimeliness , , Tertiary [[Interrupted sequence.] Discontinuity , Paleogene [[Interrupted sequence.] Discontinuity , Neocene [[Absolute quantity.] Quantity , Quaternary [Existence , . [geological epochs (list, starting at [Interrupted sequence.] Discontinuity ] Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent.
Adverbs
since the world was made, since the year one, since the days of Methuselah.
Nouns
morning, morn, forenoon, a.m., prime, dawn, daybreak
dayspring, foreday, sunup
peep of day, break of day
aurora
first blush of the morning, first flush of the morning, prime of the morning
twilight, crepuscule, sunrise
cockcrow, cockcrowing
the small hours, the wee hours of the morning. spring
vernal equinox, first point of Aries. noon
midday, noonday
noontide, meridian, prime
nooning, noontime. summer, midsummer.
Adverbs
at sunrise etc. n.
with the sun, with the lark, when the morning dawns."
Phrases
at shut of evening flowers" [Paradise Lost]
flames in the forehead of the morning sky" [Milton]
the breezy call of incense-breathing morn" [Gray] .
Nouns
evening, eve
decline of day, fall of day, close of day
candlelight, candlelighting
eventide, nightfall, curfew, dusk, twilight, eleventh hour
sunset, sundown
going down of the sun, cock-shut, dewy eve, gloaming, bedtime. afternoon, postmeridian, p.m. autumn, fall, fall of the leaf
autumnal equinox
Indian summer, St. Luke's summer, St. Martin's summer. midnight
dead of night, witching hour, witching hour of night, witching time of night
winter
killing time.
Adjectives
vespertine, autumnal, nocturnal.
Phrases
midnight, the outpost of advancing day" [Longfellow]
sable-vested Night" [Milton]
this gorgeous arch with golden worlds inlay'd" [Young] .
Nouns
youth
juvenility, juvenescence
juniority
infancy
babyhood, childhood, boyhood, girlhood, youthhood
incunabula
minority, nonage, teens, tender age, bloom. cradle, nursery, leading strings, pupilage, puberty, pucelage. prime of life, flower of life, springtide of life, seedtime of life, golden season of life
heyday of youth, school days
rising generation.
Adjectives
young, youthful, juvenile, green, callow, budding, sappy, puisne, beardless, under age, in one's teens
younger, junior
hebetic, unfledged.
Phrases
youth on the prow and pleasure at the helm" [Gray]
youth a the glad season of life" [Carlyle] .
Nouns
age
oldness etc. adj.
old age, advanced age, golden years
senility, senescence
years, anility, gray hairs, climacteric, grand climacteric, declining years, decrepitude, hoary age, caducity, superannuation
second childhood, second childishness
dotage
vale of years, decline of life, sear and yellow leaf" [Macbeth]
threescore years and ten
green old age, ripe age
longevity
time of life. seniority, eldership
elders etc. (veteran) Veteran
firstling
doyen, father
primogeniture. [Science of old age.] geriatrics, nostology.
Verbs
be aged etc. adj.
grow old, get old etc. adj.
age
decline, wane, dodder
senesce.
Adjectives
aged
old etc. Oldness
elderly, geriatric, senile
matronly, anile
in years
ripe, mellow, run to seed, declining, waning, past one's prime
gray, gray-headed
hoar, hoary
venerable, time-worn, antiquated, passe, effete, decrepit, superannuated
advanced in life, advanced in years
stricken in years
wrinkled, marked withthe crow's foot
having one foot in the grave
doting etc. (imbecile) Imbecility. Folly
like the last of pea time. older, elder, eldest
senior
firstborn. turned of, years old
of a certain age, no chicken, old as Methuselah
ancestral, patriarchal, c. (ancient) Oldness
gerontic.
Phrases
give me a staff of honor for my age" [Titus Andronicus]
old age is creeping on apace" [Byron]
slow-consuming age" [Gray]
the hoary head is a crown of glory" [Proverbs xvi, Greatness ]
the silver livery of advised age" [II Henry VI]
to grow old gracefully
to vanish in the chinks that Time has made" [Rogers] .
Nouns
infant, babe, baby, babe in arms
nurseling, suckling, yearling, weanling
papoose, bambino
kid
vagitus. child, bairn [Scot.] , little one, brat, chit, pickaninny, urchin
bantling, bratling
elf. youth, boy, lad, stripling, youngster, youngun, younker, callant, whipster, whippersnapper, whiffet [U.S.] , schoolboy, hobbledehoy, hopeful, cadet, minor, master. scion
sap, seedling
tendril, olive branch, nestling, chicken, larva, chrysalis, tadpole, whelp, cub, pullet, fry, callow
codlin, codling
foetus, calf, colt, pup, foal, kitten
lamb, lambkin
aurelia, caterpillar, cocoon, nymph, nympha, orphan, pupa, staddle. girl
lass, lassie
wench, miss, damsel, demoiselle
maid, maiden
virgin
hoyden.
Adjectives
infantine, infantile
puerile
boyish, girlish, childish, babyish, kittenish
baby
newborn, unfledged, new-fledged, callow. in the cradle, in swaddling clothes, in long clothes, in arms, in leading strings
at the breast
in one's teens.
Nouns
veteran, old man, seer, patriarch, graybeard
grandfather, grandsire
grandam
gaffer, gammer
crone
pantaloon
sexagenarian, octogenarian, nonagenarian, centenarian
old stager
dotard etc. Fool . preadamite, Methuselah, Nestor, old Parr
elders
forefathers etc. (paternity) Paternity .
Phrases
superfluous lags the veteran on the superfluous lags the veteran on the stage" [Johnson] .
Nouns
adolescence, pubescence, majority
adultism
adultness etc. adj.
manhood, virility, maturity full age, ripe age
flower of age
prime of life, meridian of life, spring of life. man etc. Man
woman etc. Woman
adult, no chicken.
Verbs
come of age, come to man's estate, come to years of discretion
attain majority
have cut one's eyeteeth, have sown one's mild oats.
Adjectives
adolescent, pubescent, of age
of full age, of ripe age
out of one's teens, grown up, mature, full grown, in one's prime, middle-aged, manly, virile, adult
womanly, matronly
marriageable, nubile.
Verbs
be early etc. adj. , be beforehand etc. adv.
keep time, take time by the forelock, anticipate, forestall
have the start, gain the start
steal a march upon
gain time, draw on futurity
bespeak, secure, engage, preengage. accelerate
expedite etc. (quicken) Velocity
make haste etc. (hurry) Haste .
Adverbs
early, soon, anon, betimes, rath
eft, eftsoons
ere long, before long, shortly
beforehand
prematurely etc. adj.
precipitately etc. (hastily) Haste
too soon
before its time, before one's time
in anticipation
unexpectedly etc. Inexpectation . suddenly etc. (instantaneously) [Point of time] Instantaneity
before one can say 'Jack Robinson', " at short notice, extempore
on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion [Bacon]
at once
on the spot, on the instant
at sight
offhand, out of hand
straight, straightway, straightforth
forthwith, incontinently, summarily, immediately, briefly, shortly, quickly, speedily, apace, before the ink is dry, almost immediately, presently at the first opportunity, in no long time, by and by, in a while, directly.
Phrases
no sooner said than done, immediately, if not sooner
Nouns
punctuality, promptness, immediateness.
Verbs
be prompt, be on time, be in time
arrive on time
be in the nick of time.
Adjectives
timely, seasonable, in time, punctual, prompt.
Adverbs
on time, punctually, at the deadline, precisely, exactly
right on time, to the minute
in time
in good time, in military time, in pudding time, in due time
time enough
with no time to spare, by a hair's breadth.
Phrases
touch and go, not a minute too soon, in the nick of time, just under the wire, get on board before the train leaves the get on board before the train leaves the station.
Nouns
lateness etc. adj.
tardiness etc. (slowness) Slowness . delay, delation
cunctation, procrastination
deferring, deferral etc. v.
postponement, adjournment, prorogation, retardation, respite, pause, reprieve, stay of execution
protraction, prolongation
Fabian policy, chancery suit, federal case
leeway
high time
moratorium, holdover.
Verbs
be late etc. adj.
tarry, wait, stay, bide, take time
dawdle etc. (be inactive) Inactivity
linger, loiter
bide one's time, take one's time
gain time
hang fire
stand over, lie over. put off, defer, delay, lay over, suspend
table [Parl.]
shift off, stave off
waive, retard, remand, postpone, adjourn
procrastinate
dally
prolong, protract
spin out, draw out, lengthen out, stretch out
prorogue
keep back
tide over
push to the last, drive to the last
let the matter stand over
reserve etc. (store) Store
temporize
consult one's pillow, sleep on it. lose an opportunity etc. Untimeliness
be kept waiting, dance attendance
kick one's heels, cool one's heels
wait impatiently
await etc. (expect) Expectation
sit up, sit up at night.
Adjectives
late, tardy, slow, behindhand, serotine, belated, postliminious, posthumous, backward, unpunctual, untimely
delayed, postponed
dilatory etc. (slow) Slowness
delayed etc. v.
in abeyance.
Adverbs
late
lateward, backward
late in the day
at sunset, at the eleventh hour, at length, at last
ultimately
after time, behind time, after the deadline
too late
too late for etc. Untimeliness . slowly, leisurely, deliberately, at one's leisure
ex post facto
sine die.
Phrases
against the sunbeams serotine and lucent" [Longfellow]
Nouns
timeliness, occasion, opportunity, opening, room
event (eventuality) Eventuality
suitable season, proper season, suitable time, proper time
high time
opportuneness etc. adj.
tempestivity. crisis, turn, juncture, conjuncture
crisis, turning point, given time. nick of time
golden opportunity, well timed opportunity, fine opportunity, favorable opportunity, opening
clear stage, fair field
spare time etc. (leisure) Leisure .
Verbs
seize an opportunity etc. (take) Taking , use an opportunity etc. Use , give an opportunity etc. Giving , use an occasion
improve the occasion. suit the occasion etc. (be expedient) [Specific subservience.] Expedience
Adjectives
opportune, timely, well-timed, timeful, seasonable. providential, lucky, fortunate, happy, favorable, propitious, auspicious, critical
suitable etc. Agreement
obiter dicta.
Adverbs
opportunely etc. adj.
in proper course, in due course, in proper season, in due season, in proper time, in due time
for the nonce
in the nick of time, in the fullness of time
all in good time
just in time, at the eleventh hour, now or never. by the way, by the by
parenthetically, by way of parenthesis, incidentally
while speaking of, while on the subject
extempore
on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion
on the spot etc. (early) Earliness .
Phrases
[Horace]
one's hour is come, the time is up
that reminds me, now that you mention it, come to think of it
Nouns
untimeliness, intempestivity, unseasonableness, inexpedience
unsuitable time, improper time
unreasonableness etc. adj.
evil hour
contretemps
intrusion
anachronism etc. [False estimate of time.] Anachronism
Verbs
be ill timed etc. adj.
mistime, intrude, come amiss, break in upon
have other fish to fry
be busy, be occupied. lose an opportunity, throw away an opportunity, waste an opportunity, neglect an opportunity etc. Neglect
allow the opportunity to pass, suffer the opportunity to pass, allow the opportunity to slip, suffer the opportunity to slip, allow the opportunity to go by, suffer the opportunity to go by, allow the opportunity to escape, suffer the opportunity to escape, allow the opportunity to lapse, suffer the opportunity to lapse, allow the occasion to pass, allow the occasion to slip by
waste time etc. (be inactive) Inactivity
let slip through the fingers, lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.
Adjectives
ill-timed, mistimed
ill-fated, ill-omened, ill-starred
untimely, unseasonable
out of date, out of season
inopportune, timeless, intrusive, untoward, unlucky, inauspicious, infelicitous, unbefitting, unpropitious, unfortunate, unfavorable
unsuited etc. Disagreement
inexpedient etc. Inexpedience . unpunctual etc. (late) Lateness
too late for
premature etc. (early) Earliness
too soon for
wise after the event, monday morning quarterbacking, twenty-twenty hindsight.
Adverbs
inopportunely etc. adj.
as ill luck would have it, in an evil hour, the time having gone by, a day after the fair.
Phrases
after death the doctor, after meat mustard.