Adjacent Words

Time definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TIME, n. [L.tempus; tempora, the falls of the head, also tempest, etc. See Tempest. Time is primarily equivalent to season; to the Gr.wpa in its original sense, opportunity, occasion, a fall, an event, that which comes.]
1. A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future. The time was; the time has been; the time is; the time will be.
Lost time is never found again.
God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. Hebrews 1.
2. A proper time; a season.
There is a time to every purpose. Ecclesiastes 3.
The time of figs was not yet. Mark 11.
3. Duration.
The equal and uniform flux of time does not affect our senses.
Time is absolute or relative; absolute time is considered without any relation to bodies or their motions. Relative time is the sensible measure of any portion of duration, by means of motion. Thus the diurnal revolution of the sun measures a space of time or duration. Hence,
4. A space or measured portion of duration.
We were in Paris two months,and all that time enjoyed good health.
5. Life or duration, in reference to occupation. One man spends his time in idleness; another devotes all his time to useful purposes.
Believe me, your time is not your own; it belongs to God, to religion, to mankind.
6. Age; a part of duration distinct from other parts; as ancient times; modern times. The Spanish armada was defeated in the time of Queen Elizabeth.
7. Hour of travail.
She was within one month of her time.
8. Repetition; repeated performance, or mention with reference to repetition. The physician visits his patient three times in a day.
9. Repetition; doubling; addition of a number to itself; as, to double cloth four times; four times four amount to sixteen.
10. Measure of sounds in music; as common time, and treble time. In concerts,it is all important, that the performers keep time, or exact time.
11. The state of things at a particular period; as when we say, good times, or bad times, hard times,dull times for trade, etc. In this sense, the plural is generally used.
12. In grammar, tense.
In time, in good season; sufficiently early.
He arrived in time to see the exhibition.
1. A considerable space of duration; process or continuation of duration. You must wait patiently; you will in time recover your health and strength.
At times, at distinct intervals of duration. At times he reads; at other times, he rides.
The spirit began to move him at times. Judges 13.
Time enough, in season; early enough.
Stanley at Bosworth-field, came time enough to save his life.
To lose time, to delay.
1. To go too slow; as, a watch or clock loses time.
Apparent time, in astronomy, true solar time, regulated by the apparent motions of the sun.
Mean time, equated time, a mean or average of apparent time.
Siderial time, is that which is shown by the diurnal revolutions of the stars.
TIME, v.t. To adapt to the time or occasion; to bring, begin or perform at the proper season or time; as, the measure is well timed, or ill timed. No small part of political wisdom consists in knowing how to time propositions and measures.
Mercy is good, but kings mistake its timing.
1. To regulate as to time; as, he timed the stroke.
2. To measure; as in music or harmony.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an instance or single occasion for some event; "this time he succeeded"; "he called four times"; "he could do ten at a clip" [syn: time, clip]
2: a period of time considered as a resource under your control and sufficient to accomplish something; "take time to smell the roses"; "I didn't have time to finish"; "it took more than half my time"
3: an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities); "he waited a long time"; "the time of year for planting"; "he was a great actor in his time"
4: a suitable moment; "it is time to go"
5: the continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past
6: a person's experience on a particular occasion; "he had a time holding back the tears"; "they had a good time together"
7: a reading of a point in time as given by a clock; "do you know what time it is?"; "the time is 10 o'clock" [syn: clock time, time]
8: the fourth coordinate that is required (along with three spatial dimensions) to specify a physical event [syn: fourth dimension, time]
9: rhythm as given by division into parts of equal duration [syn: meter, metre, time]
10: the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned; "he served a prison term of 15 months"; "his sentence was 5 to 10 years"; "he is doing time in the county jail" [syn: prison term, sentence, time] v
1: measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time; "he clocked the runners" [syn: clock, time]
2: assign a time for an activity or event; "The candidate carefully timed his appearance at the disaster scene"
3: set the speed, duration, or execution of; "we time the process to manufacture our cars very precisely"
4: regulate or set the time of; "time the clock"
5: adjust so that a force is applied and an action occurs at the desired time; "The good player times his swing so as to hit the ball squarely"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English t?ma; akin to Old Norse t?mi time, Old English t?d — more at tide Date: before 12th century 1. a. the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues ; duration b. a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future c. leisure <time for reading> 2. the point or period when something occurs ; occasion 3. a. an appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end <arrived ahead of time> b. an opportune or suitable moment <decided it was time to retire> — often used in the phrase about time <about time for a change> 4. a. a historical period ; age b. a division of geologic chronology c. conditions at present or at some specified period — usually used in plural <times are hard> <move with the times> d. the present time <issues of the time> 5. a. lifetime b. a period of apprenticeship c. a term of military service d. a prison sentence 6. season <very hot for this time of year> 7. a. rate of speed ; tempo b. the grouping of the beats of music ; rhythm 8. a. a moment, hour, day, or year as indicated by a clock or calendar <what time is it> b. any of various systems (as sidereal or solar) of reckoning time 9. a. one of a series of recurring instances or repeated actions <you've been told many times> b. plural (1) added or accumulated quantities or instances <five times greater> (2) equal fractional parts of which an indicated number equal a comparatively greater quantity <seven times smaller> <three times closer> c. turn <three times at bat> 10. finite as contrasted with infinite duration 11. a person's experience during a specified period or on a particular occasion <a good time> <a hard time> 12. a. the hours or days required to be occupied by one's work <make up time> <on company time> b. an hourly pay rate <straight time> c. wages paid at discharge or resignation <pick up your time and get out> 13. a. the playing time of a game b. time-out 1 14. a period during which something is used or available for use <computer time> II. verb (timed; timing) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to arrange or set the time of ; schedule b. to regulate (a watch) to keep correct time 2. to set the tempo, speed, or duration of <timed his leap perfectly — Neil Amdur> 3. to cause to keep time with something 4. to determine or record the time, duration, or rate of <time a horse> 5. to dispose (as a mechanical part) so that an action occurs at a desired instant or in a desired way intransitive verb to keep or beat time III. adjective Date: circa 1711 1. a. of or relating to time b. recording time 2. timed to ignite or explode at a specific moment <a time charge> 3. a. payable on a specified future day or a certain length of time after presentation for acceptance <a time draft> <time deposits> b. based on installment payments <a time sale>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 the indefinite continued progress of existence, events, etc., in past, present, and future regarded as a whole. 2 a the progress of this as affecting persons or things (stood the test of time). b (Time) (in full Father Time) the personification of time, esp. as an old man with a scythe and hourglass. 3 a more or less definite portion of time belonging to particular events or circumstances (the time of the Plague; prehistoric times; the scientists of the time). 4 an allotted, available, or measurable portion of time; the period of time at one's disposal (am wasting my time; had no time to visit; how much time do you need?). 5 a point of time esp. in hours and minutes (the time is 7.30; what time is it?). 6 (prec. by a) an indefinite period (waited for a time). 7 time or an amount of time as reckoned by a conventional standard (the time allowed is one hour; ran the mile in record time; eight o'clock New York time). 8 a an occasion (last time I saw you). b an event or occasion qualified in some way (had a good time). 9 a moment or definite portion of time destined or suitable for a purpose etc. (now is the time to act; shall we fix a time?). 10 (in pl.) expressing multiplication (is four times as old; five times six is thirty). 11 a lifetime (will last my time). 12 (in sing. or pl.) a the conditions of life or of a period (hard times; times have changed). b (prec. by the) the present age, or that being considered. 13 colloq. a prison sentence (is doing time). 14 an apprenticeship (served his time). 15 a period of gestation. 16 the date or expected date of childbirth (is near her time) or of death (my time is drawing near). 17 measured time spent in work (put them on short time). 18 a any of several rhythmic patterns of music (in waltz time). b the duration of a note as indicated by a crotchet, minim, etc. 19 Brit. the moment at which the opening hours of a public house end. --v.tr. 1 choose the time or occasion for (time your remarks carefully). 2 do at a chosen or correct time. 3 arrange the time of arrival of. 4 ascertain the time taken by (a process or activity, or a person doing it). 5 regulate the duration or interval of; set times for (trains are timed to arrive every hour). Phrases and idioms: against time with utmost speed, so as to finish by a specified time (working against time). ahead of time earlier than expected. ahead of one's time having ideas too enlightened or advanced to be accepted by one's contemporaries. all the time 1 during the whole of the time referred to (often despite some contrary expectation etc.) (we never noticed, but he was there all the time). 2 constantly (nags all the time). 3 at all times (leaves a light on all the time). at one time 1 in or during a known but unspecified past period. 2 simultaneously (ran three businesses at one time). at the same time 1 simultaneously; at a time that is the same for all. 2 nevertheless (at the same time, I do not want to offend you). at a time separately in the specified groups or numbers (came three at a time). at times occasionally, intermittently. before time (usu. prec. by not) before the due or expected time. before one's time prematurely (old before his time). for the time being for the present; until some other arrangement is made. half the time colloq. as often as not. have no time for 1 be unable or unwilling to spend time on. 2 dislike. have the time 1 be able to spend the time needed. 2 know from a watch etc. what time it is. have a time of it undergo trouble or difficulty. in no (or less than no) time 1 very soon. 2 very quickly. in one's own good time at a time and a rate decided by oneself. in one's own time outside working hours. in time 1 not late, punctual (was in time to catch the bus). 2 eventually (in time you may agree). 3 in accordance with a given rhythm or tempo, esp. of music. in one's time at or during some previous period of one's life (in his time he was a great hurdler). keep good (or bad) time 1 (of a clock etc.) record time accurately (or inaccurately). 2 be habitually punctual (or not punctual). keep time move or sing etc. in time. know the time of day be well informed. lose no time (often foll. by in + verbal noun) act immediately (lost no time in cashing the cheque). not before time not too soon; timely. no time colloq. a very short interval (it was no time before they came). out of time unseasonable; unseasonably. pass the time of day colloq. exchange a greeting or casual remarks. time after time 1 repeatedly, on many occasions. 2 in many instances. time and (or time and time) again on many occasions. time and a half a rate of payment for work at one and a half times the normal rate. time-and-motion (usu. attrib.) concerned with measuring the efficiency of industrial and other operations. time bomb a bomb designed to explode at a pre-set time. time capsule a box etc. containing objects typical of the present time, buried for discovery in the future. time clock 1 a clock with a device for recording workers' hours of work. 2 a switch mechanism activated at pre-set times by a built-in clock. time-consuming using much or too much time. time exposure the exposure of photographic film for longer than the maximum normal shutter setting. time factor the passage of time as a limitation on what can be achieved. time-fuse a fuse calculated to burn for or explode at a given time. time-honoured esteemed by tradition or through custom. time immemorial (or out of mind) a longer time than anyone can remember or trace. time-lag an interval of time between an event, a cause, etc. and its effect. time-lapse (of photography) using frames taken at long intervals to photograph a slow process, and shown continuously as if at normal speed. time-limit the limit of time within which a task must be done. the time of day the hour by the clock. time off time for rest or recreation etc. the time of one's life a period or occasion of exceptional enjoyment. time out esp. US 1 a brief intermission in a game etc. 2 = time off. time-scale the time allowed for or taken by a sequence of events in relation to a broader period of time. time-served having completed a period of apprenticeship or training. time-server a person who changes his or her view to suit the prevailing circumstances, fashion, etc. time-share a share in a property under a time-sharing scheme. time-sharing 1 the operation of a computer system by several users for different operations at one time. 2 the use of a holiday home at agreed different times by several joint owners. time sheet a sheet of paper for recording hours of work etc. time signal an audible (esp. broadcast) signal or announcement of the exact time of day. time signature Mus. an indication of tempo following a clef, expressed as a fraction with the numerator giving the number of beats in each bar and the denominator giving the duration of each beat. time switch a switch acting automatically at a pre-set time. time warp an imaginary distortion of space in relation to time, whereby persons or objects of one age can be moved to another. time was there was a time (time was when I could do that). time-work work paid for by the time it takes. time-worn impaired by age. time zone a range of longitudes where a common standard time is used . Etymology: OE tima f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Time Time, n.; pl. Times. [OE. time, AS. t[=i]ma, akin to t[=i]d time, and to Icel. t[=i]mi, Dan. time an hour, Sw. timme. [root]58. See Tide, n.] 1. Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms which designate limited portions thereof. The time wasteth [i. e. passes away] night and day. --Chaucer. I know of no ideas . . . that have a better claim to be accounted simple and original than those of space and time. --Reid. 2. A particular period or part of duration, whether past, present, or future; a point or portion of duration; as, the time was, or has been; the time is, or will be. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. --Heb. i. 1. 3. The period at which any definite event occurred, or person lived; age; period; era; as, the Spanish Armada was destroyed in the time of Queen Elizabeth; -- often in the plural; as, ancient times; modern times. 4. The duration of one's life; the hours and days which a person has at his disposal. Believe me, your time is not your own; it belongs to God, to religion, to mankind. --Buckminster. 5. A proper time; a season; an opportunity. There is . . . a time to every purpose. --Eccl. iii. 1. The time of figs was not yet. --Mark xi. 13. 6. Hour of travail, delivery, or parturition. She was within one month of her time. --Clarendon. 7. Performance or occurrence of an action or event, considered with reference to repetition; addition of a number to itself; repetition; as, to double cloth four times; four times four, or sixteen. Summers three times eight save one. --Milton. 8. The present life; existence in this world as contrasted with immortal life; definite, as contrasted with infinite, duration. Till time and sin together cease. --Keble. 9. (Gram.) Tense. 10. (Mus.) The measured duration of sounds; measure; tempo; rate of movement; rhythmical division; as, common or triple time; the musician keeps good time. Some few lines set unto a solemn time. --Beau. & Fl. Note: Time is often used in the formation of compounds, mostly self-explaining; as, time-battered, time-beguiling, time-consecrated, time-consuming, time-enduring, time-killing, time-sanctioned, time-scorner, time-wasting, time-worn, etc. Absolute time, time irrespective of local standards or epochs; as, all spectators see a lunar eclipse at the same instant of absolute time. Apparent time, the time of day reckoned by the sun, or so that 12 o'clock at the place is the instant of the transit of the sun's center over the meridian. Astronomical time, mean solar time reckoned by counting the hours continuously up to twenty-four from one noon to the next. At times, at distinct intervals of duration; now and then; as, at times he reads, at other times he rides. Civil time, time as reckoned for the purposes of common life in distinct periods, as years, months, days, hours, etc., the latter, among most modern nations, being divided into two series of twelve each, and reckoned, the first series from midnight to noon, the second, from noon to midnight. Common time (Mil.), the ordinary time of marching, in which ninety steps, each twenty-eight inches in length, are taken in one minute. Equation of time. See under Equation, n. In time. (a) In good season; sufficiently early; as, he arrived in time to see the exhibition. (b) After a considerable space of duration; eventually; finally; as, you will in time recover your health and strength. Mean time. See under 4th Mean. Quick time (Mil.), time of marching, in which one hundred and twenty steps, each thirty inches in length, are taken in one minute. Sidereal time. See under Sidereal. Standard time, the civil time that has been established by law or by general usage over a region or country. In England the standard time is Greenwich mean solar time. In the United States and Canada four kinds of standard time have been adopted by the railroads and accepted by the people, viz., Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time, corresponding severally to the mean local times of the 75th, 90th, 105th, and 120th meridians west from Greenwich, and being therefore five, six, seven, and eight hours slower than Greenwich time. Time ball, a ball arranged to drop from the summit of a pole, to indicate true midday time, as at Greenwich Observatory, England. --Nichol. Time bargain (Com.), a contract made for the sale or purchase of merchandise, or of stock in the public funds, at a certain time in the future.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Time Time, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Timed; p. pr. & vb. n. Timing.] 1. To appoint the time for; to bring, begin, or perform at the proper season or time; as, he timed his appearance rightly. There is no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things. --Bacon. 2. To regulate as to time; to accompany, or agree with, in time of movement. Who overlooked the oars, and timed the stroke. --Addison. He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying cries. --Shak. 3. To ascertain or record the time, duration, or rate of; as, to time the speed of horses, or hours for workmen. 4. To measure, as in music or harmony.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Time Time, v. i. 1. To keep or beat time; to proceed or move in time. With oar strokes timing to their song. --Whittier. 2. To pass time; to delay. [Obs.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(times, timing, timed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. Time is what we measure in minutes, hours, days, and years. ...a two-week period of time... Time passed, and still Ma did not appear... The social significance of religion has changed over time. 2. You use time to ask or talk about a specific point in the day, which can be stated in hours and minutes and is shown on clocks. 'What time is it?'—'Eight o'clock.'... He asked me the time... What time did he leave?... The time is now 19 minutes past the hour. N-SING: wh/the N 3. The time when something happens is the point in the day when it happens or is supposed to happen. Departure times are
08:15 from St Quay, and
18:15 from St Helier. N-COUNT see also opening time 4. You use time to refer to the system of expressing time and counting hours that is used in a particular part of the world. The incident happened just after ten o'clock local time. N-UNCOUNT: supp N 5. You use time to refer to the period that you spend doing something or when something has been happening. Adam spent a lot of time in his grandfather's office... He wouldn't have the time or money to take care of me... Listen to me, I haven't got much time... The route was blocked for some time... For a long time I didn't tell anyone... A short time later they sat down to eat... N-UNCOUNT: also a N 6. If you say that something has been happening for a time, you mean that it has been happening for a fairly long period of time. He stayed for quite a time... After a time they came to a pond. N-SING: a N 7. You use time to refer to a period of time or a point in time, when you are describing what is happening then. For example, if something happened at a particular time, that is when it happened. If it happens at all times, it always happens. We were in the same college, which was male-only at that time... By this time he was thirty... It was a time of terrible uncertainty... Homes are more affordable than at any time in the past five years... It seemed like a good time to tell her... N-COUNT: with supp, oft prep N 8. You use time or times to talk about a particular period in history or in your life. We'll be alone together, quite like old times... We are in one of the most severe recessions in modern times... N-COUNT: with supp, usu adj N, N of n 9. You can use the times to refer to the present time and to modern fashions, tastes, and developments. For example, if you say that someone keeps up with the times, you mean they are fashionable or aware of modern developments. If you say they are behind the times, you mean they are unfashionable or not aware of them. This approach is now seriously out of step with the times... Johnny has changed his image to fit the times. N-PLURAL: the N 10. When you describe the time that you had on a particular occasion or during a particular part of your life, you are describing the sort of experience that you had then. Sarah and I had a great time while the kids were away... She's had a really tough time the last year and a half... N-COUNT: adj N 11. Your time is the amount of time that you have to live, or to do a particular thing. Now Martin has begun to suffer the effects of AIDS, and he says his time is running out... N-SING: poss N 12. If you say it is time for something, time to do something, or time you did something, you mean that this thing ought to happen or be done now. Opinion polls indicated a feeling among the public that it was time for a change... It was time for him to go to work... This was no time to make a speech... N-UNCOUNT: oft N for n, N to-inf, N that 13. When you talk about a time when something happens, you are referring to a specific occasion when it happens. Every time she travels on the bus it's delayed by at least three hours... The last time I saw her was about sixteen years ago... N-COUNT: with supp 14. You use time after numbers to say how often something happens. It was her job to make tea three times a day... N-COUNT: usu num/ord N 15. You use times after numbers when comparing one thing to another and saying, for example, how much bigger, smaller, better, or worse it is. Its profits are rising four times faster than the average company... ...an area five times the size of Britain. N-PLURAL: num N compar, num N as adj/adv, num N n 16. You use times in arithmetic to link numbers or amounts that are multiplied together to reach a total. Four times six is 24. CONJ 17. Someone's time in a race is the amount of time it takes them to finish the race. He was over a second faster than his previous best time... N-COUNT: with supp, oft poss N, N of n 18. The time of a piece of music is the number of beats that the piece has in each bar. A reel is in four-four time, and a jig is in six-eight time. N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N, oft in N 19. If you time something for a particular time, you plan or decide to do it or cause it to happen at this time. He timed the election to coincide with new measures to boost the economy... We had timed our visit for March 7... He had timed his intervention well... Operation Amazon is timed to coincide with the start of the dry season. VERB: V n to-inf, V n for n, V n adv, V-ed, also V n 20. If you time an action or activity, you measure how long someone takes to do it or how long it lasts. He timed each performance with a stop-watch. VERB: V n 21. see also timing 22. If you say it is about time that something was done, you are saying in an emphatic way that it should happen or be done now, and really should have happened or been done sooner. It's about time a few movie makers with original ideas were given a chance... PHRASE: it v-link PHR that, PHR as reply [emphasis] 23. If you do something ahead of time, you do it before a particular event or before you need to, in order to be well prepared. Find out ahead of time what regulations apply to your situation. PHRASE: PHR after v 24. If someone is ahead of their time or before their time, they have new ideas a long time before other people start to think in the same way. My mother was ahead of her time. She surrounded me with culture and art. PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR in -ing 25. If something happens or is done all the time, it happens or is done continually. We can't be together all the time... = continually PHRASE: PHR after v 26. You say at a time after an amount to say how many things or how much of something is involved in one action, place, or group. Beat in the eggs, one at a time... PHRASE: amount PHR 27. If something could happen at any time, it is possible that it will happen very soon, though nobody can predict exactly when. Conditions are still very tense and the fighting could escalate at any time. PHRASE: PHR with cl 28. You say at the best of times when you are making a negative or critical comment to emphasize that it is true even when the circumstances are as favourable as possible. A trade war would be bad at the best of times, but in the current economic climate, it would be a disaster. PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis] 29. If you say that something was the case at one time, you mean that it was the case during a particular period in the past. At one time 400 men, women and children lived in the village. PHRASE: PHR with cl 30. If two or more things exist, happen, or are true at the same time, they exist, happen, or are true together although they seem to contradict each other. I was afraid of her, but at the same time I really liked her... PHRASE: PHR with cl 31. At the same time is used to introduce a statement that slightly changes or contradicts the previous statement. I don't think I set out to come up with a different sound for each album. At the same time, I do have a sense of what is right for the moment. PHRASE: PHR with cl 32. You use at times to say that something happens or is true on some occasions or at some moments. The debate was highly emotional at times... PHRASE: PHR with cl/group 33. If you say that something was before your time, you mean that it happened or existed before you were born or before you were able to know about it or remember it. 'You've never seen the Marilyn Monroe film?'—'No, I think it was a bit before my time.' PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 34. If someone has reached a particular stage in life before their time, they have reached it at a younger age than is normal. The small print has forced me, years before my time, to buy spectacles... PHRASE: PHR after v 35. If you say not before time after a statement has been made about something that has been done, you are saying in an emphatic way that you think it should have been done sooner. (BRIT) The virus is getting more and more attention, and not before time... PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis] 36. If you call time on something, you end it. (mainly BRIT JOURNALISM) Scott Hastings has called time on his international career by cutting short his contract. PHRASE: V inflects 37. Someone who is doing time is in prison. (INFORMAL) He is serving 11 years for robbery, and did time for a similar offence before that. PHRASE: V inflects 38. If you say that something will be the case for all time, you mean that it will always be the case. The desperate condition of the world is that madness has always been here, and that it will remain so for all time. PHRASE: usu PHR with v, PHR with group 39. If something is the case or will happen for the time being, it is the case or will happen now, but only until something else becomes possible or happens. For the time being, however, immunotherapy is still in its experimental stages... PHRASE: PHR with cl 40. If you do something from time to time, you do it occasionally but not regularly. Her daughters visited him from time to time when he was ill. PHRASE: PHR with v, PHR with cl 41. If you say that something is the case half the time you mean that it often is the case. (INFORMAL) Half the time, I don't have the slightest idea what he's talking about. PHRASE: PHR with cl 42. If you say that you have no time for a person or thing, you mean you do not like them or approve of them, and if you say that you have a lot of time for a person or thing, you mean you like them or approve of them very much. When I think of what he's done to my mother and me, I've just got no time for him... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 43. If you say that it is high time that something happened or was done, you are saying in an emphatic way that it should happen or be done now, and really should have happened or been done sooner. It is high time the Government displayed a more humanitarian approach towards victims of the recession... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR that, PHR to-inf [emphasis] 44. If you are in time for a particular event, you are not too late for it. I arrived just in time for my flight to London... PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf 45. If you say that something will happen in time or given time, you mean that it will happen eventually, when a lot of time has passed. He would sort out his own problems, in time... Tina believed that, given time, her business would become profitable. PHRASE: PHR with cl 46. If you are playing, singing, or dancing in time with a piece of music, you are following the rhythm and speed of the music correctly. If you are out of time with it, you are not following the rhythm and speed of the music correctly. Her body swayed in time with the music... We were standing onstage playing completely out of time. PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR with n 47. If you say that something will happen, for example, in a week 's time or in two years ' time, you mean that it will happen a week from now or two years from now. Presidential elections are due to be held in ten days' time... PHRASE: PHR with cl 48. If you arrive somewhere in good time, you arrive early so that there is time to spare before a particular event. If we're out, we always make sure we're home in good time for the programme. PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR for n 49. If you tell someone that something will happen in good time or all in good time, you are telling them to be patient because it will happen eventually. There will be many advanced exercises that you won't be able to do at first. You will get to them in good time... PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR as reply 50. If something happens in no time or in next to no time, it happens almost immediately or very quickly. He expects to be out of prison in next to no time. PHRASE: PHR with cl 51. If you do something in your own time, you do it at the speed that you choose, rather than allowing anyone to hurry you. Now, in your own time, tell me what happened. PHRASE: PHR with cl 52. If you do something such as work in your own time in British English, or on your own time in American English, you do it in your free time rather than, for example, at work or school. If I choose to work on other projects in my own time, then I say that is my business. PHRASE: PHR with cl 53. If you keep time when playing or singing music, you follow or play the beat, without going too fast or too slowly. As he sang he kept time on a small drum. PHRASE: V inflects 54. When you talk about how well a watch or clock keeps time, you are talking about how accurately it measures time. Some pulsars keep time better than the earth's most accurate clocks. PHRASE: V inflects 55. If you make time for a particular activity or person, you arrange to have some free time so that you can do the activity or spend time with the person. Before leaving the city, be sure to make time for a shopping trip... PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf 56. If you say that you made good time on a journey, you mean it did not take you very long compared to the length of time you expected it to take. They had left early in the morning, on quiet roads, and made good time. PHRASE: V inflects 57. If someone is making up for lost time, they are doing something actively and with enthusiasm because they have not had the opportunity to do it before or when they were younger. Five years older than the majority of officers of his same rank, he was determined to make up for lost time. PHRASE: V inflects 58. If you are marking time, you are doing something that is not particularly useful or interesting while you wait for something more important or interesting to happen. He's really just marking time until he's old enough to leave. PHRASE: V inflects 59. If you say that something happens or is the case nine times out of ten or ninety-nine times out of a hundred, you mean that it happens on nearly every occasion or is almost always the case. When they want something, nine times out of ten they get it... PHRASE: PHR with cl 60. If you say that someone or something is, for example, the best writer of all time, or the most successful film of all time, you mean that they are the best or most successful that there has ever been. 'Monopoly' is one of the best-selling games of all time... PHRASE: n PHR, usu PHR after adj-superl 61. If you are on time, you are not late. Don't worry, she'll be on time... PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 62. If you say that it is only a matter of time or only a question of time before something happens, you mean that it cannot be avoided and will definitely happen at some future date. It now seems only a matter of time before they resign... PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft it v-link PHR before cl 63. When you refer to our time or our times you are referring to the present period in the history of the world. It would be wrong to say that the Church doesn't enter the great moral debates of our time. PHRASE: usu of/in/for PHR 64. If you do something to pass the time you do it because you have some time available and not because you really want to do it. Without particular interest and just to pass the time, I read a story... PHRASE: V inflects 65. If you play for time, you try to make something happen more slowly, because you do not want it to happen or because you need time to think about what to do if it happens. The president's decision is being seen as an attempt to play for time. PHRASE: V inflects 66. If you say that something will take time, you mean that it will take a long time. Change will come, but it will take time... PHRASE: V inflects, oft it PHR to-inf 67. If you take your time doing something, you do it quite slowly and do not hurry. 'Take your time,' Cross told him. 'I'm in no hurry.' PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR -ing 68. If a child can tell the time, they are able to find out what the time is by looking at a clock or watch. My four-year-old daughter cannot quite tell the time. PHRASE: V inflects 69. If something happens time after time, it happens in a similar way on many occasions. Burns had escaped from jail time after time... = repeatedly PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR after v 70. If you say that time flies, you mean that it seems to pass very quickly. Time flies when you're having fun. PHRASE: V inflects 71. If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself very much indeed. We're taking our little grandchild away with us. We'll make sure he has the time of his life... PHRASE: Ns inflect, PHR after v, v-link PHR 72. If you say there is no time to lose or no time to be lost, you mean you must hurry as fast as you can to do something. He rushed home, realising there was no time to lose. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 73. If you say that time will tell whether something is true or correct, you mean that it will not be known until some time in the future whether it is true or correct. Only time will tell whether Broughton's optimism is justified... PHRASE: oft PHR whether/if 74. If you waste no time in doing something, you take the opportunity to do it immediately or quickly. Tom wasted no time in telling me why he had come. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR in -ing 75. time and again: see again in the fullness of time: see fullness

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.

1. The Day:

The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and morning" in accordance with what we know was the method of reckoning the day of 24 hours, i.e. from sunset to sunset.

2. Night:

The night was divided, during pre-exilic times, into three divisions called watches ('ashmurah, 'ashmoreth), making periods of varying length, as the night was longer or shorter (Jud 7:19). This division is referred to in various passages of the Old Testament, but nowhere with indication of definite limits (see Ps 90:4; 119:148; Jer 51:12; Hab 2:1).

In the New Testament we find the Roman division of, etc.). But the use of the word in the indefinite sense, as in the expressions: "day of the Lord," "in that day," "the day of judgment," etc., is far more frequent (see DAY). Other more or less indefinite periods of the day and night are: dawn, dawning of the day, morning, evening, noonday, midnight, cock-crowing or crowing of the cock, break of day, etc.

3. Week:

The weekly division of time, or the seven-day period, was in use very early and must have been known to the Hebrews before the Mosaic Law, since it was in use in Babylonia before the days of Abraham and is indicated In the story of the Creation. The Hebrew shabhua`, used in the Old Testament for "week," is derived from shebha`, the word for "seven." As the seventh day was a day of rest, or Sabbath (Hebrew shabbath), this word came to be used for "week," as appears in the New Testament sabbaton, sabbata), indicating the period from Sabbath to Sabbath (Mt 28:1). The same usage is implied in the Old Testament (Le 23:15; 25:8). The days of the week were indicated by the numerals, first, second, etc., save the seventh, which was the Sabbath. In New Testament times Friday was called the day of preparation (paraskeue) for the Sabbath (Lu 23:54).

4. Month:

The monthly division of time was determined, of course, by the phases of the moon, the appearance of the new moon being the beginning of the month, chodhesh. Another term for month was yerach yerach, meaning "moon," which was older and derived from the Phoenician usage, but which persisted to late times, since it is found in the Aramaic inscriptions of the 3rd century AD in Syria. The names of the months were Babylonian and of late origin among the Hebrews, probably coming into use during and after the Captivity. But they had other names, of earlier use, derived from the Phoenicians, four of which have survived in "Abib," "Ziv," "Ethanim" and "Bul."

See CALENDAR.

5. Year:

The Hebrew year (shanah) was composed of 12 or 13 months, the latter being the year when an intercalary month was added to make the lunar correspond with the solar year. As the difference between the two was from ten to eleven days, this required the addition of a month once in about three years, or seven in nineteen years. This month was added at the vernal equinox and was called after the month next preceding, we-'adhar, or the "second Adar." We do not know when this arrangement was first adopted, but it was current after the Captivity. There were two years in use, the civil and the ritual, or sacred year. The former began in the autumn, as would appear from Ex 23:16; 34:22, where it is stated that the "feast of ingathering" should be at the end of the year, and the Sabbatic year began in the 7th month of the calendar or sacred year, which would correspond to September-October (Le 25:9). Josephus says (Ant., I, iii, 3) that Moses designated Nican (March-April) as the 1st month of the festivals, i.e. of the sacred year, but preserved the original order of the months for ordinary affairs, evidently referring to the civil year. This usage corresponds to that of the Turkish empire, where the sacred year is lunar and begins at different seasons, but the financial and political year begins in March O.S. The beginning of the year was called ro'sh ha-shanah, and was determined by the priests, as was the beginning of the month. Originally this was done by observation of the moon, but, later, calculation was employed in connection with it, until finally a system based on accurate calculation was adopted, which was not until the 4th century AD. New-Year was regarded as a festival.

See ASTRONOMY, sec. I, 5; YEAR.

6. Seasons:

The return of the seasons was designated by summer and winter, or seed-time and harvest; for they were practically the same. There is, in Palestine, a wet season, extending from October to March or April, and a dry season comprising the remainder of the year. The first is the winter (choreph), and this is the seed-time (zera`), especially the first part of it called yoreh, or the time of the early rain; the second is the summer (qayits, "fruit-harvest," or qatsir, "harvest").

Seed-time begins as soon as the early rains have fallen in sufficient quantity to moisten the earth for plowing, and the harvest begins in some parts, as in the lower Jordan region, near the Dead Sea, about April, but on the high lands a month or two later. The fruit harvest comes in summer proper and continues until the rainy season. "The time when kings go out to war" (2Sa 11:1; 1Ki 20:22) probably refers to the end of the rainy season in Nican.

7. No Era:

We have no mention in the Old Testament of any era for time reckoning, and we do not find any such usage until the time of the Maccabees. There are occasional references to certain events which might have served for eras had they been generally adopted. Such was the Exodus in the account of the building of the temple (1Ki 6:1) and the Captivity (Eze 33:21; 40:1) and the Earthquake (Am 1:1). Dates were usually fixed by the regnal years of the kings, and of the Persian kings after the Captivity. When Simon the Maccabee became independent of the Seleucid kings in 143-142 or 139-138 BC, he seems to have established an era of his own, if we may attribute to him a series of coins dated by the years "of the independence of Israel" (see COINS: MONEY; also 1 Macc 13:41 and 15:6,10). The Jews doubtless were familiar with the Seleucid era, which began in 312 BC, and with some of the local eras of the Phoenician cities, but we have no evidence that they made use of them. The era of the Creation was not adopted by them until after the time of Christ. This was fixed at 3,830 years before the destruction of the later temple, or 3760 BC.

See ERA.

H. Porter

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Duration. 2. Spell, season, interval, term, while, span, space of time. 3. Period, age, era, epoch, date, term. 4. Delivery, parturition, confinement, hour of travail, period of childbirth. 5. Fit season, proper time, opportunity, season. 6. Allotted period, appropriated time. 7. Occasion, particular period. 8. Life, lifetime, duration of one's life. 9. Present life, existence in this world. 10. Leisure, vacant time, unoccupied time. 11. (Mus.) Measure. II. v. a. 1. Adapt to the occasion. 2. Regulate (as to time). 3. Note the rate of (with respect to speed). 4. (Mus.) Measure.

Moby Thesaurus

Archean, Archeozoic, Cambrian, Carboniferous, Cenozoic, Comanchean, Cretaceous, Devonian, Eocene, Glacial, Holocene, International Date Line, Lower Cretaceous, Lower Tertiary, Mesozoic, Miocene, Mississippian, Oligocene, Paleocene, Paleozoic, Pennsylvanian, Permian, Platonic year, Pleistocene, Pliocene, Precambrian, Proterozoic, Quaternary, Recent, Silurian, Tertiary, Triassic, Upper Cretaceous, Upper Tertiary, a leg up, accompany, adjust, aeon, again and again, age, agree, ahead of time, all at once, all the same, all the time, all together, always, anchor watch, andante tempo, annus magnus, anon, antedate, antiquated, at all times, at intervals, at once, at one time, at times, be in phase, be in time, beat, beat time, beforehand, behind the times, bell, bender, bit, book, bout, brannigan, break, bright and early, bust, but, carousal, carouse, chance, circumstance, clear stage, clock, coexist, coextend, coincide, compotation, compound time, concur, conditions, constantly, contemporize, continually, continuous tenure, continuously, control, convenience, culture, cycle, cycle of indiction, date, date line, dated, datemark, dawdle, day, day shift, days, dead, delay, dogwatch, duple time, duration, early, ease, enlistment, epoch, era, even so, eventually, ever, every so often, everything, experience, fair field, fair game, fateful moment, fix, fix the time, for the moment, for the nonce, formerly, forthwith, free time, freedom, frequently, full time, generation, go, goof-off time, graveyard shift, great year, habits, half time, heretofore, heyday, hitch, hour, however, idle hours, immediately, in good time, in no time, in time, in unison, indiction, inning, innings, instant, interval, isochronize, jag, juncture, just the same, kairos, keep in step, keep pace with, keep time, largo, leisure, liberty, life, lifetime, linger, lobster trick, loiter, look-in, many times, march tempo, mark time, match, meanwhile, measure, measure time, minute, mixed times, moment, moment of truth, mores, nevertheless, night shift, nonetheless, notwithstanding, obsolescent, obsolete, occasion, occasionally, odd moments, often, old hat, old-fashioned, on account, on credit, on occasion, on one occasion, on terms, on the dot, on time, once, one day, opening, opportunism, opportunity, organize, outdated, outmoded, overtime, pace, part time, passe, patch, period, perpetually, place, plan, point, point of time, postdate, pregnant moment, prematurely, presto, previously, prison term, pro tem, pro tempore, program, psychological moment, punctually, quickly, rag, ragtime, regulate, relay, relief, repeatedly, repose, rest, retirement, rhythm, room, round, rubato, say, schedule, scope, season, semiretirement, set, set the time, set up, sextuple time, shift, shilly-shally, shot, show, simple time, simultaneously, someday, sometime, sometimes, soon, sooner or later, space, span, spare time, speedily, spell, split schedule, split shift, spree, squeak, stage, stepping-stone, stint, straightaway, stretch, sunrise watch, swiftly, swing shift, synchronize, syncopation, syncope, tempo, tempo rubato, temporarily, tenure, term, the time, things, three-quarter time, time after time, time and again, time at bat, time lag, time of day, time pattern, time signal, time to kill, time to spare, times, timing, together, tour, tour of duty, trick, triple time, triplet, turn, turn of work, two-four time, unceasingly, values, waltz time, watch, whack, whet, while, without delay, work shift, yet