- Sooner or later
- Soon Soon (s[=oo]n), adv. [OE. sone, AS. s[=o]na; cf. OFries.
s[=o]n, OS. s[=a]na, s[=a]no, OHG. s[=a]r, Goth. suns.]
1. In a short time; shortly after any time specified or
supposed; as, soon after sunrise. ``Sooner said than
done.'' --Old Proverb. ``As soon as it might be.''
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore Soon learned. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. Without the usual delay; before any time supposed; early. [1913 Webster]
How is it that ye are come so soon to-day? --Ex. ii. 18. [1913 Webster]
3. Promptly; quickly; easily. [1913 Webster]
Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. Readily; willingly; -- in this sense used with would, or some other word expressing will. [1913 Webster]
I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
{As soon as}, or {So soon as}, immediately at or after another event. ``As soon as he came nigh unto the camp . . . he saw the calf, and the dancing.'' --Ex. xxxii. 19. See {So . . . as}, under {So}.
{Soon at}, as soon as; or, as soon as the time referred to arrives. [Obs.] ``I shall be sent for soon at night.'' --Shak.
{Sooner or later}, at some uncertain time in the future; as, he will discover his mistake sooner or later.
{With the soonest}, as soon as any; among the earliest; too soon. [Obs.] --Holland. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.