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单词 ready
释义

readyadj.adv.int.n.

Brit. /ˈrɛdi/, U.S. /ˈrɛdi/
Forms: early Middle English rædi, early Middle English rædiȝ ( Ormulum), Middle English radi, Middle English rady, Middle English rede, Middle English redey, Middle English redi, Middle English reedy, Middle English reyde, Middle English rydy, Middle English–1500s readi, Middle English–1500s redie, Middle English–1500s redye, Middle English–1500s (1900s– in sense D. 1) reddy, Middle English–1600s redy, Middle English–1600s 1800s readie, Middle English– ready, 1500s readye, 1500s ridie, 1500s–1600s reddie, 1600s redeye, 1900s– raddy (U.S. regional (chiefly in African-American usage)), 1900s– riddy (Irish English (northern)); English regional 1800s– hreaddy (southern), 1800s– hready (southern), 1800s– reddy; Scottish pre-1700 raday, pre-1700 radday, pre-1700 raddie, pre-1700 raddy, pre-1700 raddye, pre-1700 rade, pre-1700 radie, pre-1700 rady, pre-1700 radye, pre-1700 raide, pre-1700 readdie, pre-1700 readdy, pre-1700 redde, pre-1700 reddi, pre-1700 reddy, pre-1700 reddye, pre-1700 rede, pre-1700 redey, pre-1700 redi, pre-1700 redie, pre-1700 redye, pre-1700 reedie, pre-1700 reidy, pre-1700 ridde, pre-1700 riddie, pre-1700 riddy, pre-1700 ryde, pre-1700 1700s readie, pre-1700 1700s reddie, pre-1700 1700s redy, pre-1700 1700s– ready, 1800s– reathy.
Origin: Either (i) formed within English, by derivation. Or (ii) a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: Old English rǣde , -y suffix1; i-redy adj.
Etymology: Either < Old English (rare) rǣde ready, prompt (see below; more usually gerǣde i-rede adj.) + -y suffix1, or aphetic < i-redy adj. Compare i-rad adj., rede v.2With Old English rǣde compare Old Frisian rēd , rēde , Middle Dutch reet , reede , rēde , ree (Dutch ree ), Middle Low German rēde , reide , rēt , reit ( > Old Icelandic reiðr , Old Swedish redha , reðo (Swedish reda , redo ), Old Danish rethe , redhe (Danish rede )), Middle High German reite , reit (German reit ; now only regional). For morphological parallels to ready compare Middle Low German rēdich , reidich available, of service (German regional (Low German) redig ), Swedish redig prepared, finished (probably partly < Middle Low German rēdich , reidich , and partly independently < Swedish reda ), and (perhaps < Swedish) Danish redig . With prefixation compare (with y- prefix) Middle Dutch gereet , gereit (Dutch gereed ), Middle Low German gerēde , gereide , gerēt , gereit , Old High German gireiti (Middle High German gereite , gereit ), Old Icelandic greiðr graith adj., Gothic garaiþs , and also (with be- prefix) Middle Dutch bereet , bereit , bereide (Dutch bereid ), Middle Low German berēde , bereide , berēt , bereit (hence Swedish beredd , †bereda , †beredo , Danish beredt ), Middle High German bereite , bereit (German bereit ). There are also numerous verbal formations from the same base with the meaning ‘to put in order, to make ready’. The further etymology is difficult to establish with any certainty, as is the direction of the derivational relationships among the words in the various Germanic languages. The same Indo-European base is probably shown by Lithuanian raidus quick, ready, Latvian raids ready, rist (1st person singular present indicative riedu ) to put in order (now archaic); further etymology uncertain and disputed. With ready boune adj. at Compounds 4 compare Old Icelandic reiðubúinn , Old Swedish reðoboin , redhaboin , etc. (Swedish redobogen ), Old Danish redebon , redbon , redheboæn (Danish redebon ). With ready coin , etc., at sense A. 11 compare Old Icelandic reiðupenningar, Old Swedish redhum pænningum, dative plural (Swedish reda pänningar), Danish rede penge, and also Middle Low German rēdegelt, reidegelt, rētgelt, reitgelt.
A. adj.
I. Having or exhibiting (inherent) alacrity, willingness, or inclination.
1. With infinitive.
a. Willing, eager; feeling or exhibiting no reluctance to (also †for to) do something.
(a) In predicative use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective]
freeeOE
well-willingOE
readyc1175
fainc1275
buxoma1300
prestc1300
liefc1325
rifec1390
willyc1390
baina1400
willinga1400
listyc1440
towardc1440
appliable1449
pronea1450
wilfulc1460
prompt?a1475
content1477
towardly1513
contenteda1525
towards1525
fond1529
comingc1576
unrefusinga1586
open-armed1594
voluntary1598
gainsome1629
easy1653
unreluctant1654
nothing loath1667
applicable1702
irreluctanta1706
unhesitating1753
unloath1861
prone-minded1869
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12936 Godd iss rædiȝ tunnderrfon. Þatt follc þatt rihht himm follȝheþþ.
c1200 Serm. in Eng. & Germanic Stud. (1961) 7 62 He fand þe vmmanne heorte al to hemti of bileue and to redi for to lusten his mis lare.
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 60 (MED) To nyme bote ig am redy.
c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. iv. 155 ‘I am redy,’ quaþ resoun, ‘to reste wiþ ȝow euere’.
?a1425 (?c1350) Northern Passion (Rawl.) 583 (MED) I am redy loud and styll In word and werk to wyrk þi will.
1550 R. Crowley Way to Wealth sig. Biiiiv How readi God is to take vengeaunce for the oppression of his people.
1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 115 The cashed soldier is euer readie to follow any faction.
1673 J. Milton Psalm LXXXVI in Poems (new ed.) 160 Thou Lord art the God most mild Readiest thy grace to shew.
1720 D. Manley Power of Love iii. 214 She loves you in a lost manner, she is ready to die.
a1800 W. Cowper Gratitude in W. Hayley Life & Posthumous Writings Cowper (1803) II. App. 268 To me ever ready to show Benignity, friendship, and truth.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. i. 137 The loyal gentry declared that they were still as ready as ever to risk their lives for the old government.
1891 E. Kinglake Austral. at Home 114 A pal or two..ready to help a chap if things go wrong.
1912 A. Brazil New Girl at St. Chad's iii. 42 Her house-mistress would not have been ready to overlook any deficiency in punctuality.
1948 Sunday Times 2 May 4/5 No Pakistani I have met is yet ready to admit that the achievement was not worth the sacrifice.
1993 T. Parker May Lord in His Mercy be Kind to Belfast (1994) viii. 106 History teachers in Catholic schools have been very ready and willing to discuss the subject with those of us in Protestant schools.
†(b) In attributive use, with infinitive following the noun modified. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective] > ready or prompt > most ready or prompt
readyc1175
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13436 Swa þatt i muȝhe findenn ȝuw..All rædiȝ follc to follȝhenn me.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Cor. viii. 19 That like as there is a ready mynde to wil, there maye be a ready mynde also to perfourme the dede.
1574 J. Studley tr. J. Bale Pageant of Popes vi. f. 114v One William Earle of Holland, a readye man to maintaine any quarell by the sworde.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. ii. 47 The fellow that sits next him..is the readiest man to kill him. View more context for this quotation
1660 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 359 The most ready men to cring to and serve these times.
1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 94 He's the readiest Man living to make him sick with good Liquor.
1844 W. M. Thackeray Barry Lyndon (1984) xiv. 202 I said, that as soon as her ladyship's remittances were arrived, I would be the readiest person to meet her.
†b. figurative. Of a thing: likely or liable to do something. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [adjective] > liable
readyc1425
obnoxious1610
predisposed1645
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 4078 (MED) Allas, Fortune, gery and vnstable And redy [v.r. likly] ay to be chaungable.
1539 R. Taverner tr. W. Capito Epitome of Psalmes (new ed.) sig. h.ii Leaue vs not to oure owne wyll & choyse, for it is slyppery and readye to fall.
1633 Earl of Manchester Al Mondo: Contemplatio Mortis (rev. ed.) 172 Our last thoughts are readiest to spend themselues vpon somewhat that wee loued best while we liued.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 295 The Sharp Winds are Serene Air..being ready to cut you through.
1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) 283 Green Peas are ready to satisfie the longing Appetite of the likerish Palate.
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. viii. 635 At a moment..when every thing was ready to be reported, and every thing to be believed.
c. Inclined, disposed, or apt to do something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [adjective] > inclined
set13..
tendenta1340
disposedc1380
enclinant1400
inclining?c1400
inclinedc1405
prone1408
hieldingc1480
talenteda1500
inclinablea1513
prone1528
propense1528
minded1529
propensed1530
ready1533
proclivec1540
fit1574
tending to1578
forward1581
minded1588
propensive1599
intense1620
propendenta1646
propended1693
calculated1723
oriented1925
prone1926
turned1931
orientated1964
1533 J. Frith Bk. answeringe Mores Let. sig. H1 God forbid that any man shuld be the more prone & readye to beleue thys yonge man in this great mater.
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 1 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) They are alwayes readie to impute the blame thereof unto the Heavens.
1656 G. Collier Vindiciæ Thesium de Sabbato (new ed.) 20 They were readier to suspect themselves then Judas.
1680 H. More Apocalypsis Apocalypseos 357 The Wits of this age that are ready to snear and flear at any such profession.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 130 Once or twice they were ready to lay down all their Loads and run for it.
1774 W. Buchan Domest. Med. (ed. 3) x. 128 There is no passion with which people are so ready to tamper as love.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 273 He was but too ready to consider all who recommended prudence and charity as traitors to the cause of truth.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 298 You are too ready to speak evil of men.
1915 T. L. Golden Let. 30 May in Lett. from Front (Canadian Bank of Commerce) (1920) I. 19 Ready to look down upon the Britisher as a good-for-nothing lady-like cissy.
1968 It 1–14 Nov. 16/1 The Turks seem to be ready to turn with a malicious vengeance on young Europeans for the least (often no) provocation.
1992 Independent 27 Nov. 23/5 So many people in Britain were ready to be impressed by shrill triumphalism and half-baked dogma..because of the years of failure and frustration.
†2. With to or unto followed by a noun. Willing or liable to undertake, undergo, or to act in regard of something; inclined towards a certain practice or trait. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 191 Ȝif hie redie ben to golliche deden.
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xvi. 13 (MED) Hij token me as a lyon redy to his praie.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. 3444 He is redi to the feith.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 5 (MED) He was of nature ful frendly and goodly and redy eke on-to ire.
a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 25 (MED) His wyf was an heretyk and redy to vicis.
a1550 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) f. 58 Like wax it will be redye vnto liquacione.
1558 C. Goodman How Superior Powers 103 The Lorde, who is redie to mercie and slowe to anger.
a1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 313 I lament that the wisdom of the flesh should be readier to godly works than the wisdom of the spirit.
1608 in W. Mackay & G. S. Laing Rec. Inverness (1924) II. 57 Ane ithand [ed. itchand] drunckert,..reddie to evill doinge.
1693 W. Wake tr. Epist. St. Barnabas in Genuine Epist. 312 Lovers of Lies..: Ready to evil speaking, not knowing him that made them.
1702 R. Mead Mech. Acct. Poisons ii. 62 Impatient, ready to Action, Quick-witted.
3.
a. Willing or eager to act when required; prompt to oblige. Also: quick at one's work; skilled.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > prompt to act
radeOE
yevereOE
snellOE
ratheOE
spacka1200
quickc1300
eagerc1325
readyc1330
tallc1374
smartc1380
desirousc1386
rifec1390
promptc1425
speedy?1504
nimblea1547
present1548
go-ahead1825
the world > action or operation > ability > [adjective] > for, of, or to do something > and ready
readyc1330
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 798 (MED) Rohand, þe riche kniȝt, Redy was he ay.
c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 94 Þer as moost daunger is, þer sette þe rediest hunters..þe moor daunger, þe elder and þe redier and most tendir nosed hounde.
a1450 Late Middle Eng. Treat. on Horses (1978) 87 Loke þat he be hardi & coragious of herte, redi & lyȝt of his feet.
1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Classiarius,..a diligent persone, a ready felow.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 977 With these..was Amurath, vpon a light and readie horse.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 22 So I am Your most affectionate ready servant, J. H.
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 5 Before his Lord the ready Spaniel bounds.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey I. iii. 608 Bread and wine a ready handmaid brings.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna xii. iv. 252 A thousand torches..Borne by the ready slaves of ruthless law.
1840 J. Devlin Shoemaker i. 43 The quickest, or, as they are called in the trade, the readiest hands.
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 333/1 He knew that he was a ready man (a quick workman).
1927 A. Conan Doyle Case-bk. Sherlock Holmes 186 These Americans are readier with pistols than our folk are.
1978 G. Mitchell Mingled with Venom i. 4 She had been taken on as kitchen-maid... She was..a ready learner of upstairs speech and manners.
1999 R. E. Guiley Encycl. Witches & Witchcraft (ed. 2) 303/1 Obeying the orders of the mayombero like a faithful slave, always willing and ready.
b. With at, of, or (formerly) †in: quick, prompt; skilled, knowledgeable. Now rare.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 8404 Of salamon þi sone bi ȝonge He ful wise and redy of tonge.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope xii And by cause that the yonge woman was redy in speche and malycious, she ansuerd forth with.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 215 As thou was louse and redy of thy bune.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 8v Readyer in the defence of it [sc. wisdom] to haue made an Apologie, then any way to tourne to Apostacie.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iii. iv. 159 Ready in gybes, quicke-answer'd, sawcie. View more context for this quotation
?c1663 B. Whitelocke Diary (1990) 330 He was ready in the Scriptures, learned & humble.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 109 in Trav. Persia These Eunuchs are very ready at these kind of dark Contrivances.
a1710 G. Bull Visit. Serm. (1714) 21 Who thinks it not enough to be ready in alledging the bare Words of Scripture..unless he know the Sense and Meaning of what he recites.
1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. iii. xxi. 153 He was one of the old Stamp, ready at praising or rewarding those who had written Panegyricks on particular Men.
a1816 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal (rev. ed.) i. i, in Wks. (1821) II. 26 'Twould surprise you to hear how ready he is at all these fine sort of things.
1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. v. 67 Likely to be excellent Christians as they were very ready at the Bible.
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. v. 119 The mind that is too ready at contempt and reprobation is..as a clenched fist that can give blows, but is shut up from receiving and holding ought that is precious.
1906 Macmillan's Mag. July 695 The librarian, a functionary whom he desired good-looking, good-natured, good-mannered, and ready of speech.
1911 N.E.D. at Textuary One well acquainted with and ready at quoting texts.
c. U.S. slang. In African-American use: expert in and quick to react to the environment of the ‘street’; ‘streetwise’. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > worldly wisdom > [adjective]
world-wiseOE
worldly-wisec1400
smart1571
shrewd1589
hard1655
sharp1697
auld-farrant1702
up to snuff1810
canny1816
savvy1826
worldly1829
lairy1846
facultized1872
sophisticated1895
hep1899
hip1904
streetwise1949
ready1967
kewl1990
1967 J. Horton in Trans-action Apr. 5/2 One either knows ‘what's happening’ on the street, or he is a ‘lame’, ‘out of it’, ‘not ready’ (lacks his diploma in street knowledge), a ‘square’.
1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 96 Ready, hip; receptive.
1973 T. Kochman Rappin' & Stylin' Out 163 Another term such as ‘ready’ is descriptive of the person who ‘has his diploma in street knowledge’, which means knowing what's happening, taking advantage of opportunities, avoiding pitfalls, and being prepared to move where the action is.
4.
a. Of the mind or mental faculties: quick to understand, plan, etc.; alert, perceptive, incisive. Now chiefly in ready wit.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adjective] > of mind, mental operations: sharp
quickOE
readya1393
piercingc1425
piercive1567
perforating1578
sharp1580
nimble1589
sudden1604
smirk1607
apprehensive1621
emunct1679
arrowing1793
keen1794
thorough-edged1830
fast1850
insightful1907
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 1036 To every craft..He hadde a redi wit to helpe Thurgh naturel experience.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 17432 Nu is vs nede of redy þouȝt.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) iv. xxxiv. 82 Suche as were of moost redy wyt couthe taken hede of alle.
1571 T. Hill Contempl. Mankinde xxii. f. 100 Yet had thys person a readie wit, through the comely forme of the head.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. ii. 116 By and by the dinne of Warre gan pierce His readie sence.
1688 P. Rycaut tr. G. de la Vega Royal Comm. Peru i. xxxviii. 479 Atahualpa..was of a quick and ready Understanding.
1724 Mr. M. in J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. 84 He is a Man..of a fine, pleasant and ready Wit.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 271 Nature had furnished her not only with a ready but a solid turn of thought.
1830 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I III. v. 72 The intellect of Laud was..earnest, ready, and practical above most minds.
1886 J. A. Symonds Renaissance in Italy (1898) VII. xiii. 223 He made himself a favourite by roguish ways and ready wit.
1902 Lady E. Cecil Let. 21 June in C. Headlam Milner Papers (1933) II. xi. 417 I was conscious of that moderation which his ready and quick understanding always induces in me.
1955 A. C. Scott Kabuki Theatre of Japan x. 249 It depicts a hero who extricates himself and his companions against all odds from a difficult situation by his presence of mind and ready wit.
1993 N.Y. Times 24 Oct. ii. 30/3 A slender man with a pensive quality underlying his ready wit.
b. Of a person, a person's tongue, pen, etc.: quick and lively in speech, discourse, or writing; eloquent. Cf. sense A. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [adjective]
wordyeOE
talewisec1200
i-worded?c1225
babblinga1250
cacklinga1250
chatteringa1250
speakfula1250
word-wooda1250
of many wordsc1350
janglingc1374
tatteringc1380
tongueya1382
ganglinga1398
readya1400
jargaunt1412
talkative1432
open-moutheda1470
clattering1477
trattling?a1513
windy1513
popping1528
smatteringa1529
rattle?1529
communicablea1533
blab1552
gaggling1553
long-tongued?1553
prittle-prattle1556
pattering1558
talking1560
bobling1566
gabbling1566
verbal1572
piet1573
twattling1573
flibber gibber1575
babblative1576
tickle-tongued1577
tattling1581
buzzing1587
long-winded1589
multiloquous1591
discoursive1599
rattling1600
glib1602
flippant1605
talkful1605
nimble-tongued1608
tongue-ripe1610
fliperous1611
garrulous?1611
futile1612
overspeaking1612
feather-tongueda1618
tongue-free1617
long-breatheda1628
well-breathed1635
multiloquious1640
untongue-tied1640
unretentive1650
communicative1651
linguacious1651
glibbed1654
largiloquent1656
multiloquent1656
parlagea1657
loose-clacked1661
nimble-chop1662
twit-twat1665
over-talkativea1667
loquacious1667
loudmouth1668
conversable1673
gash1681
narrative1681
chappy1693
apposite1701
conversative1703
gabbit1710
lubricous1715
gabby?1719
ventose1721
taleful1726
chatty?1741
blethering1759
renable1781
fetch-fire1784
conversational1799
conversant1803
gashing1808
long-lunged1815
talky1815
multi-loquacious1819
prolegomenous1822
talky-talky1831
nimble-mouthed1836
slipper1842
speechful1842
gassy1843
in great force1849
yattering1859
babbly1860
irreticent1864
chattable1867
lubrical1867
chattery1869
loose-mouthed1872
chinny1883
tongue-wagging1885
yappy1909
big-mouthed1914
loose-lipped1919
ear-bashing1945
ear-bending1946
yackety-yacking1953
nattering1959
yacking1959
woofy1960
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [adjective] > voluble (of the tongue)
tickle1377
readya1400
aspen1532
rolling1549
rounda1568
voluble1604
well hanged1632
well-hung1648
slippery1699
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adjective] > of speech, action
readya1400
politicc1430
feat1519
handsome?1543
witty1551
political1577
conceited1583
shrewd1761
sagacious1831
kokum1839
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 27566 (MED) Pride..rises..For steuen suet, for rede tung.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxi. sig. fiij A man..shall,..with a litle refection,..haue his inuencion quicker..his tonge rediar.
1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 1v Reading maketh a full man, conference a readye man.
c1613 ( in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 2 Ye may nott faile to send hider..some readie man for to answer unto him.
1653 Duchess of Newcastle Poems & Fancies 129 A sharp, and quick, and ready, pleasing Tongue.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xlii. 296 O what a ready penwoman!
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. x. 278 He was..a ready orator, an elegant poet, [etc.].
1803 J. Farington Diary 13 Feb. (1923) II. xxii. 81 He is said to be an excellent Scholar, but not a ready man. If required to write an address, or execute any business of the kind, He is tedious, & generally prolix.
1883 R. Gower My Reminisc. I. vi. 101 He had a..kind heart and a ready pen.
1901 R. Kipling Kim xi. 266 ‘My father came from Amritzar—by Jandiala,’ said Kim, oiling his ready tongue for the needs of the Road.
a1953 R. T. Davis Spain in Decline, 1621–1700 (1957) v. 110 In his early youth he had shown considerable promise as a Latinist and a mathematician, a ready speaker and a writer of prose and poetry.
1992 W. Zachs Without Regard to Good Manners ii. 40 From the outset Stuart found his ready pen in sufficient demand on Grub Street.
c. Of speech, discourse, or writing: expressed promptly, easily, or fluently.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adjective] > fluent or unforced
gentc1390
renablec1410
flowing1553
round1565
unracked1572
current1577
ready1583
voluble1598
facile1607
unforceda1616
fluent1625
sliding1627
unstudied1657
flippanta1677
easy1711
fast-flowing1770
fluida1794
superfluent1917
1583 P. Stubbes Anat. Abuses sig. Iiiiv Til neuer a one can speak a redy woord.
1591 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage To Rdr. sig. B3 [He] tipled so much Malmsie that hee had neuer a ready word in his mouth.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 31 The ready suggestions of our own naturall wit.
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Georgics in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ¶1v A clearness of Notion, express'd in ready and unstudied words.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xi. ii. 101 Easy and natural as the Question may seem, Sophia found it difficult to give it a very ready and certain Answer. View more context for this quotation
1773 J. Wesley Let. ?15 Jan. (1931) VI. 11 He must have a clear understanding; a knowledge of men and things, particularly of the Methodist doctrine and discipline; a ready utterance..with a tolerable share of health.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. i. 9 Returning a ready answer.
1857 R. A. Willmott Pleasures of Lit. xxi. 124 A ready jest opens more intricacies of the true character than a siege or a battle.
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover v. 52 ‘You haven't spoken to her ladyship yet, Mellors?’ ‘No, Sir!’ came the ready, neutral words.
1979 A. Boyle Climate of Treason xi. 420 If he did idly question why the Soviet Union had kept their guests in cold storage for so long, Philby soon found a ready answer.
2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Mag.) 48/2 Broca's area [of the brain]..acts as a kind of musical conductor, orchestrating the recognition, comprehension and ready articulation of words.
5.
a. Of action or an act, or the capacity for these: characterized by promptness, quickness, or ease.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > characterized by promptness of action
readya1393
prompt1483
speediful1647
fast1863
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. 1412 (MED) Leonin..bad him gon a redy pas To fetten hire, and forth he wente.
a1425 (?a1400) Benjamin Minor (Harl. 674) in P. Hodgson Deonise hid Diuinite (1955) 41 Þer is noþing betyr þan to be rewlyd after counsel, þe whiche is þe rediest getyng of discrecioun.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) xxiii. 96 Thai sall fynd grete scathe, and redy taking of sekeness.
a1500 Theophilus (Rawl. Poet. 225) in Englische Studien (1903) 32 9 (MED) Thu schalt sen that I schal don Belyve a redy fare.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 13 For the redier conceiving..behold the figure insuing.
1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. xxx. sig. R6v Being soone off, and soone on, of a readie, though not of a wise dispatche.
1670 D. Lloyd State-worthies (ed. 2) 816 The Reliefs of Rhingbergh were actions of great resolution, ready dispatch, a watchful circumspection, and good pursuit.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Table Loxodromick Tables, Tables of Traverses, used in Navigation for the easy and ready Solution of Problems.
1754 Bp. T. Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. x. 292 Yeilding a ready, tho' unwilling Obedience.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xi. 155 If readier aid than either his or Waverley's had not interposed, there would certainly have been bloodshed. View more context for this quotation
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 497 Gave him credit for..much readier elocution than he really possessed.
1913 Lancet 16 Aug. 498/1 The Maddox phorometer, a hand instrument designed for the ready and accurate diagnosis of muscular insufficiencies.
1958 C. Wilford in P. Gammond Decca Bk. of Jazz ii. 40 The improvisations of master executants..preserved on record, for ready imitation by a host of second-liners.
1990 Lion Conc. Bible Handbk. (BNC) 72 Human nature being what it is, fear brings a readier response than love.
b. Resulting from or exhibiting alacrity or willingness in some respect; unhesitating; unrestrained.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective] > ready or prompt
radeOE
rekenOE
ratheOE
freshc1175
gradelyc1275
quickc1300
freea1393
readya1425
promptc1425
forward1523
forwards1598
cheerful1600
alacritous1821
up to ——1849
a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 32 (MED) Full swith redy seruis fand þai þare a schowre.
c1520 M. Nisbet New Test. in Scots (1901) I. Matt. xxvi. 41 For the spirit is reddie [Purvey redi; L. promptus], bot the flesch is seek.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxxiiv Defended by thy moste gracious and readye helpe.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 155 Beneuolence and ready mind toward their keepers and norishers.
1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 141 It finds the readyest Reception.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the First 3 He, like the World, his ready visit pays, Where Fortune smiles.
1789 F. Burney Diary 18 Nov. (1842) V. 70 I gave her my ready promise.
1813 Ld. Byron Bride Abydos ii. xx. 367 Open speech, and ready hand.
1884 Law Times 76 331/2 This is one of those abstract principles which in the present day are pretty sure to find ready acceptance.
1910 J. G. Brooks Amer. Citizen xxviii. 281 Side by side with these business duties we find him doing ready service in many other fields.
1957 R. Hoggart Uses of Literacy (1959) 83 With their..well-creamed hair and ready smiles they are meant..to represent an ethos.
1992 J. L. Esposito Islamic Threat i. 15 Charges of corruption and of concentration and maldistribution of wealth found a ready reception as one looked at individual countries and the region.
c. Of a process or event: that happens quickly or easily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > taking place quickly and easily
ready1600
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > doing effortlessly > done easily > taking place easily
ready1600
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. iii. 5 Neere some great good Towne, that so the things of readiest sale may be sold for the best aduancement and making of the most of the reuenues.
1684 S. Pordage tr. T. Willis Of Urines in Pract. Physick (rev. ed.) 1 The saline Particles (for that they are made volatile) are married to spirituals, and so they are of a more ready motion, and energy.
1730 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) III. 391 That when at Market they may find a readier sale.
1774 T. Percival Observ. Poison of Lead ii. 29 It is applied more quickly and forcibly..from its ready solubility in the stomach.
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 141 Stone is the only material upon which you can operate, because of its ready absorption and retention of water.
1877 E. R. Conder Basis of Faith v. 223 The..ready solubility [of sugar] in water.
1913 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 104 i. 409 This is termed porphyrinogen in view of its ready conversion into a red product having the spectroscopic properties of porphyrin.
1960 A. Lamb Brit. & Chinese Central Asia v. 123 This idea, that Indian tea could find a ready sale beyond the Himalayas, was an attractive one.
2001 J. Le Fanu They don't know what's Wrong xv. 225 There are a variety of fairly well-recognized muscle conditions such as myasthenia gravis where, as here, the main symptom is of ready fatiguability of individual muscles.
II. That has prepared; in a state of preparedness.
6.
a. With infinitive. Prepared or having made all preparations to (also †for to) do something. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [adjective] > prepared or ready > made ready
readyc1175
i-boenc1275
ydight1297
preparatec1395
ready-made?a1425
apparelled1483
prepared1526
dight1535
readieda1774
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11758 Tær wass efft te laþe gast. Rædiȝ forr himm to fandenn.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 111 Ðanne ðe neddre is of his hid naked..If he cloðed man se..up he riȝteð him, redi to deren.
c1300 St. Lucy (Laud) 176 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 106 Aungles þare weren redie I-nowe hire soule to heuene lede.
c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 489 (MED) Loke þat þu þe bise Þat þu be euere redi and ȝare Out of þis world for to fare.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 155 (MED) Be ȝee redy [Fr. apparaillez] with such a nombre of white hors for to serue the Emperour.
?1478 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 649 I wol telle you when I schall be redy to come from Eton.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 42/1 They founde the kinge with his companie readye to leape on horsebacke.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 306 The king..sayd, how he was not as then readie to geue them a playne aunswere.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. v. 29 To bid the Priest be readie to come against you come. View more context for this quotation
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. ii. §18 There are some more subtile particles of matter, which are ready to fill up those void spaces.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 13 My Nephew was ready to sail.
1791 W. Cowper Retirem. 20 Apparelled in exactest sort, And ready to be borne to court.
1830 G. P. R. James Darnley III. xi. 251 The warning gun was fired from the castle.., giving notice that the King of England was ready to set out.
1884 R. W. Church Bacon ix. 220 His incorrigible imaginativeness, ever ready to force itself in amid the driest details.
1917 D. Haig Diary 1 Aug. in War Diaries & Lett. 1914–18 (2005) 308 He will be ready to start his attack on Sunday morning.
1943 Illustr. London News 17 July 71 (caption) A paratroop about to land, with feet together and knees bent ready to take the shock.
1991 Guardian 1 Nov. 25/2 The..BBC was on standby last weekend, ready to respond to the findings of a Sunday Times investigation into the question of political bias in its news coverage.
b. In a state of preparedness, so as to be capable of immediately performing or undergoing what is implied or expressed in the context.In early use esp. with regard to combat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [adjective] > prepared or ready
i-radc888
yarec888
i-redec1000
i-redya1175
boundc1175
graith?c1225
aready1250
alreadyc1275
readyc1275
armedc1300
prestc1300
bentc1330
ripec1330
purveyed1435
mature?1440
apt1474
habile1485
in (a) case to (also for)1523
provided1533
in procinct1540
weeping-ripe1548
furnished1553
fit1569
preta1600
expedite1604
predy1613
procinct1618
foreprepared1642
presto1644
apparated1663
(ready) in one's gears1664
fallow1850
standby1893
organized1926
(to be) all set1949
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 4315 Iulius wes al rædi [c1300 al readi] alse he to wolde ræsen.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 4320 Þe cnihtes þat redi [c1275 igarede] were bi-gonne to fihte.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xiv. 14 He noumbrede þrehundreþ tenn & eyȝte men of his own houshold redy [L. expeditos], & he pursued hem vnto dan.
1412 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 389 Giff ony soudane affray comys, that thai be redy under the said payne.
1536 in W. Fraser Memorials Family Wemyss (1888) III. 4 That ye addres you to be at ws..rady and bodin in bors and geir.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 698 He wrote..commaundyng all men..to be redie in harnesse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Induct. i. 57 Some one be readie with a costly suite. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 94 His Kine with swelling Udders ready stand. View more context for this quotation
1726 Four Years Voy. Capt. G. Roberts 13 I shipped Hands and began to get things ready as fast as I could.
1790 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 446 The glittering spears are ranked ready.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 78 As soon as you have taken some refreshment,..We shall be ready.
1890 G. M. Fenn Double Knot I. viii. 191 You'd better look sharp,..they're all ready and waiting.
1943 W. S. Churchill Second World War (1951) IV. 839 We must be ready with our plans in the Eastern Mediterranean.
1996 Times 20 May 27/3 Peter gave me some suggestions about what to think about as the bowler runs in, so that I am focused and ready.
c. spec. and as implied by the context. Properly dressed or attired; in a fit state for public appearance.As a specific sense, apparently limited to the 16th and 17th centuries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > properly dressed
well-clotheda1387
readyc1405
well-suited1598
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Squire's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 379 Vp riseth fresshe Canacee hir selue..Noon hyere was he [sc. the sun] whan she redy was.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlviiiv Whan thou art vp & redy: than first swepe thy house.
1595 G. Peele Old Wiues Tale sig. B This vantage shall we haue of them in the morning, to bee ready at the sight thereof.
1653 D. Osborne Lett. to Sir W. Temple (2002) 103 I rise in the morning reasonably Early, and before I am redy I goe rounde the house.
1661 Thracian Wonder ii. i. sig. C2v (stage direct.) Enter Pheander ready.
1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. (ed. 2) II. 234 Having permitted 'em time to get themselves ready, he enter'd the Chamber.
1794 T. Holcroft Adventures Hugh Trevor I. vi. 38 I went to bed with an overjoyed heart, and a head so full of the morrow that I was up dressed and ready..first.
1822 C. Darwin Let. 4 Jan. in Corr. (2002) XIII. 341 I went in town and bought the cakes, and I came back sooner than Mariane was ready, and that foolish old man shoed in the bedroom.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage vii. 22 It was extraordinary that after thirty years of marriage his wife could not be ready in time on Sunday morning.
1989 J. Galloway Trick is to keep Breathing (1991) 168 I thought it was very grown-up: always wore an evening dress and took hours of tarting before I was ready.
2006 P. Williams Rise & Fall Yummy Mummy iii. 41 We look similar: hair with three-inch roots rubbered back into scruffy ponytails,..with badly mismatched clothes because the baby was crying when we were getting ready.
d. Having made preparations for an event, action, state, etc.
ΚΠ
1450 in J. Stevenson Lett. & Papers Illustr. Wars Eng. in France (1861) I. 511 (MED) Ye wol..mak oure sugites of youre cuntre to be arayyd and redy..for the defense of thaire cuntre.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xi. iii. 194 Hald ȝou reddy for the batale ay.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 106 Be readie Claudio, for your death to morrow. View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 184 It [sc. a fly] presently squats down, as it were, that it may be the more ready for its rise.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 238 I put my self into all the same Postures for an Attack that I had formerly provided, and was just ready for Action.
1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry II. i. 36 Teague by this time..had dressed himself in his overalls and short coat, and was ready for a march.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge lxiii. 304 He was ready for working off.
1862 Sat. Rev. 14 219/2 If we go on in this way, we shall be ready for bull-fights and gladiators.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 4/2 Is the plaintiff ready for trial?
1940 War Illustr. 5 Jan. 560 The gas-masked gun crew are ready for all eventualities.
1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 412/1 The United States was ready for the next favorable opportunity to launch to Mars with Viking—the most ambitious planetary mission to date.
e. U.S. slang (chiefly Jazz). Well prepared or practised; (hence) excellent, first-rate. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
c1938 N. E. Williams Cab Calloway & Cotton Club Orchestra 35/2 When an individual or a piece of music is high class or greatly admired, we indicate it by saying, ‘He's ready!’ or ‘That's ready!’
1944 C. Calloway Hepsters Dict. Ready,..100 per cent in every way. Ex., ‘That fried chicken was ready.’
1945 Tomorrow June 27/3 This time he was ready, so to speak, for it was on this second sojourn..that he began to impress his musical contemporaries.
1968 in R. Russell Jazz Style in Kansas City (1971) 183 When he came back, several months later, he was a new musician. He was ready.
7.
a. That has passed or been brought into such a condition as to be immediately likely or liable to do something.
ΚΠ
c1480 (a1400) St. James Less 300 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 159 Rycht as þe ȝerde suld tremyl al, & mak all werkis reddy to fall.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 266 All is bot tynt or reddie for to tyne.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Heb. viii. 13 Nowe that which is disanulled and wexed olde, is redy to vanysshe a waye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. i. 229 Ready to sterue, and dare not touch his owne. View more context for this quotation
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 50 Drawing him from one side of it to the other, till he was ready to give up the ghost.
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes iv. 172 Finding all things ready to run into confusion.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. xlviii. 185 He has ordered her..only some little cordials to take when ready to faint.
1830 M. R. Mitford Our Village IV. 55 The poor little lass..sighed, and quirked, and fidgetted, and seemed ready to cry.
1868 R. Scott Treat. Ventilation of Coal Mines 28 A side-wafer, or a frame of stone, most dangerous to look at, as it appeared ready to drop.
1922 E. R. Eddison Worm Ouroboros vii. 96 Here..tottereth a tower ready to fall athwart our friendship and pash it in pieces.
1969 ‘M. Fallon’ Fine Night for Dying v. 56 She looked tired, ready to drop at any moment.
1996 M. Burgess Junk (1997) xxix. 258 She got bigger and bigger every time she came in and now she's about ready to pop.
b. spec. Sufficiently angry, irritated, or provoked to be about to do something violent. Cf. fit adj. 5b. Frequently in hyperbolic use, or with figurative expressions of anger.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [adjective] > angry enough to do something
ready1535
fit1574
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xvii. 4 What shal I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 12 Thay sune ar steirit vp, and radie to put hand in thair King.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena iv. 123 Murmuring in so open a manner, against the person of the Prince, as made him..ready to goe besides himselfe.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa ii. iii. 191 Seeing Nini preferr'd, [he] was ready to run mad.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 34 I was ready to snatch the Breeches out of her Hands.
1794 C. Pigott Female Jockey Club 109 We have beheld her ready to burst with rage, when the consequences have been against her at Macao.
1854 J. W. Warter Last of Old Squires xii. 118 Always ready to explode when thwarted in his squirearchy, he not only could, but did, look inward continually.
1862 O. W. Norton Army Lett. (1903) 123 Nothing would make me ready to fight sooner than to hear some home guard abuse McClellan.
1929 E. L. Rice Street Scene i. 72 Mr. Maurrant lookin' at Sankey as if he was ready to kill him.
1997 Inside Soap 28 June 19/4 The other day a guy suffering from road rage jumped out of his car and was ready to punch me on the nose.
c. Having a desire or need for something, esp. a source of relief or pleasure; eager or content for something to happen.
ΚΠ
1789 W. Blake Ecchoing Green in Songs of Innocence Round the laps of their mothers, Many sisters and brothers..Are ready for rest.
1832 T. Fowler Jrnl. Tour through Brit. Amer. 76 In the warm weather, the dogs are generally ready for a drink by the time they reach the water.
1861 C. Fox Jrnls. II. 280 John Bright is great fun, always ready for a chat and a fulmination.
1950 E. G. Bradley Dearest Priscilla xvi. 221 I was tired and hungry by lunch time, ready for a sleep, a bath, some tea, and to whisk through my housekeeping with great speed and zest.
1989 Peterson's Hunting Ann. 1990 75/3 After a superb dinner supervised by Susan, a couple of sundowners, and lots of talk, I was ready for bed.
2007 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 12 July 24 p Yes, some bosses get on employees' nerves... So by Wednesday, you're ready for a drink.
III. That has been prepared; characterized by preparedness, convenience, or ease.
8. In the condition of having been prepared or put in order for a particular purpose.
a. In predicative use. Frequently with for or with infinitive (frequently with passive sense).
ΚΠ
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 18812 Þurrh þatt arrke þatt iss aȝȝ. All rædiȝ i þin herrte Þu wirrkesst arrkess aȝȝ off tre.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 3057 (MED) Þai hem poruaid alle among Swiþe redi alle þing Þat schuld to þat coroning.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxii. 4 My boles..ben slayn and alle thingis redy.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 5270 (MED) Þair mete to þam i rede [a1400 Gött. redi] broght.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 362 (MED) A cheyer, that euer more sholde be redy [Fr. aparellie] for the knyght in to sitte.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. lxxvii Sir leaue your musyng and come into ye hall..yor dyner is all redy.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. i. 55 This your companion..hath a storie readie for your eare. View more context for this quotation
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 17 Our two Cock-Boates were ready to carry to shore such as..had clothes to wash.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 132. ⁋1 His Horses were ready at the appointed Hour.
1788 J. O'Keeffe Prisoner at Large i. vi There, sir, the bed's ready.
1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. v. 72 Here is a grave Just ready for thy body, Walsingham!
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 106 All awaits us ranged and ready.
1912 Daily News 4 Oct. 6 The peat..has been stacked by now in rick or turf-shed ready for the winter's burning.
1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio 252 Erasure, the removal of recorded signals from a tape so that it is ready to re-use.
1995 M. Collins Colour of Forgetting 120 When the food was ready, they sat and watched him eat.
b. In attributive use.In some instances, perhaps a figurative use of sense A. 3a.
ΚΠ
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Henry VI. xix Our kingdomes are but cares,..Our riches redy snares.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 147 They..when past the marke, with an other ready Arrow, can strike the rest looking backwards.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 207 The God himself with ready Trident stands, And opes the Deep, and spreads the moving sands.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. ii. 455 Along the strand The ready vessel rides.
1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 2 Blest that abode, where..every stranger finds a ready chair.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 103 There were sleeping dragons..perhaps, with ready spears.
1916 E. R. Burroughs Beasts of Tarzan xvi. 252 With ready revolver to compel obedience, she let them up one by one.
2007 Evening Standard (Palmerston North, N.Z.) (Nexis) 26 Apr. 1 Neighbours were on hand showing support yesterday, armed with ready cups of coffee.
c. Following a past participle (cf. Compounds 1).
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1565 Compend. Bk. Godly Psalmes sig. Hiii The cruel men sal..haif yair bow bent reddy in yar hand.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xi. 70 We haue a Chist beneath the hatches, Caulkt and bittumed ready . View more context for this quotation
1685 C. Cotton tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. (1711) III. iii. vi. 159 A Number of Harquebusiers, drawn up ready, and charg'd.
1701 T. D'Urfey Bath iii. 24 I warrant to see that no decorum be wanting, and that everything be laid ready in the Bride-bed.
1793 J. Ogden Archery 6 With bow, bent ready, when he rang'd the field.
1847 E. Brontë Wuthering Heights II. xiii. 264 The cups and saucers were laid ready.
1964 E. Bowen Little Girls iii. vi. 250 An abiding-looking, heavy, clean-scrubbed deal table—with, now placed ready upon it, a basket of eggs, a mixing bowl, [etc.].
1999 D. Boulter in S.-J. Lovett Oral 18 Our life was a pillow fight, we'd stand there on the Quilt, our hands clenched ready.
d. As the second element of compounds.For some of the more established formations of this type, as oven-ready, camera-ready, web-ready, etc., see the first element.
ΚΠ
1926 National Provisioner 3 Feb. 10/1 Roast-ready rib is prepared..starting at a fixed point determined by measuring off 3 in. from extreme outer tip of rib-eye muscle at 12th rib.
1943 Modesto (Calif.) Bee & News-Herald 7 Sept. 3/2 Five combat ready pilots from the Modesto area were commissioned as second lieutenants this week.
1960 North Adams (Mass.) Transcript 9 Aug. 5 One of the units of the Army's battle-ready Strategic Army command..made the trip to Zoar.
1989 Times (Nexis) 23 Dec. We were not match-ready at the start of this race; the boat was too rushed.
1996 Wired Oct. 100/1 Now, thanks to new technical advances made by embedded systems developers, these invisible computers have become Internet-ready.
2005 Hydrocarbon Processing (Nexis) 1 June 9 The product is a boiler-ready premixture of wood biomass adhered to coal.
2007 Men's Fitness July 76 (advt.) Win! A Panasonic 32in HD-ready TV.
9. So placed or constituted as to be immediately available when or whenever required; close at hand; convenient for use; easily accessed, obtained, or employed.
†a. In predicative use. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > [adjective] > conveniently near
readyc1175
ready to (also at) handa1393
hend?a1513
forthcoming1521
handy1650
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > [adjective] > usable > available > readily
readyc1175
ready to (also at) handa1393
present1533
level1559
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 6421 Teȝȝre steorne wass hemm ða full rædiȝ upp o liffte. To ledenn hemm þatt weȝȝe rihht.
a1250 Wohunge ure Lauerd in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 277 I þi childhad hafdes tu..ti moder readi hwen þu pappe ȝerndes.
c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) l. 347 Þu most habbe redi mitte Twenti mart [read marc] ine þi slitte.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John vii. 6 My time cam not ȝit, but ȝoure tyme is euermore redy.
c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 57 If thou haue doughteris for to marye, And thou wilte make them all redye To man..Of kyng Adrastus vmbethinke the.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 346 (MED) A man..all nyght labored that fire and watir shuld not faile, but þat he shold alway have bothe redy.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. ccii. 621 Bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 11v I place fyrst by them selues, suche as are most in vse, that they may be the redier.
1656 H. Phillippes Purchasers Pattern (ed. 3) ii. 154 The use of this Table is plain and ready.
1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 8 The next Cole-pit, or Mine..these are so ready and obvious in almost all places.
b. In attributive use. In Older Scots frequently (chiefly in superlative) of goods, rents, etc., esp. when made the subject of an order of distraint.Chiefly northern and Scottish before the 17th cent.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 1 Esdras prol. 82 A swift scribe in þe lawe of moises, swift, þat is, for more redi figures of lettris þan þe ebrues beforhond hadden he fond.
1496 in G. Neilson & H. Paton Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1918) II. 26 The sade Edward sal be payit of the saide soume..of the erest and redyest gudis of the next justice aire.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 48 At Ptolome ane reddie port tha fand.
1569 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1878) 1st Ser. II. 23 Poind..the reddiest gudis..to the avale and quantitie of the taxatioun.
1609 J. Skene tr. Forme of Proces in Regiam Majestatem 125 To..poynd, and distreinzie the reddiest cornes.
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (xcix. 8 Annot.) 494/2 This appears to be the full and ready importance of this passage.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 128 The slightest, easiest, readiest recompence. View more context for this quotation
1720 Importance & Managem. Brit. Fishery 11 Such a Nursery..would afford a ready Supply of Sailors to Man out a Fleet.
1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. II. xiii. 3 It [sc. water] is the easy and speedy medium, the ready conduct and conveyance, whereby all redundancies are carried off.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. ix. 204 Rab..bang'd out o' bed, and till some of his readiest claes.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People ii. §5. 83 William found a more ready source of revenue in the settlement of Jewish traders.
1923 D. A. Mackenzie Myths China & Japan xvii. 335 A ready market is found in China for Korean ginseng.
1951 L. E. H. Whitby & M. Hynes Med. Bacteriol. (ed. 5) v. 61 The body falls a ready prey to infections of all sorts when the bone-marrow for any reason fails to produce granulocytes.
1997 Baltimore Mag. Aug. 43/2 Beer..requires a ready supply of grain, and a little undisturbed time to ferment.
10. Of a way, path, etc.: lying directly before a person; that may swiftly and easily be followed; direct. Also in figurative contexts (esp. with conscious reference to travel). Cf. sense A. 13.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > [adjective] > of roads or directions: straight, direct
gaina1000
evenc1175
readyc1330
graith1352
nigh1516
right1567
near1579
forerighta1640
bain1864
c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 614 (MED) Fram heuen y cam..God sent me to þe To bid þe make þe redi way.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 6252 Þou sal see it cleue in tua And giue yow redi wai to ga.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 555 Thai ga Toward mytoune the reddy vay.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aviv The Roy and his rout..To rome tuke the reddy way.
1563 W. Baldwin et al. Myrrour for Magistrates (new ed.) Hastings xxii The stearesman sekes a redier course to ronne.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis i. viii. 20 Gelanorvs coasteth the readiest way to Timoclea's house.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 976 I seek What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds Confine with Heav'n. View more context for this quotation
1704 Descr. All Seats of Present Wars of Europe iv. 167 Between Gauspach and Stolhoffen is the only ready Road for the French Army to march from Alsace to Swabia.
1759 S. Johnson Prince of Abissinia II. xxxviii. 85 To the favour of the covetous there is a ready way.
1809 W. Combe Schoolmaster's Tour in Poet. Mag. Nov. 50 Grizzle, all alive and gay, Ambled along the ready way.
1859 Harper's Mag. Sept. 466/1 By-and-by, when the engineer shall have tamed its rough nature by path and road, it will be a ready route eastward to Lake Champlain.
1922 Times 20 Feb. 14/1 Nervous apprehension is a ready road to misfortune.
1954 M. Wheeler Archaeol. from Earth v. 65 The barriers or balks provide ready paths of access to the various squares.
2007 San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 22 Aug. Tijuana's Rodriguez Airport connections would [be] as convenient as a tram ride at existing major airports (the Interstate 905 corridor is a ready route).
11. Of money: immediately available as currency; having the form of coins or banknotes. Now chiefly in ready cash.ready coin and ready gold are common in the 16th and 17th centuries.See also ready rhino n. at Compounds 4 and ready money n.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > [adjective] > ready money or cash
readya1400
dry1574
running1662
ready money1671
ready-moneyed1757
tractile1892
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 6324 Ten mark of pens redy, and ten mark hys ouþer store.
1472 J. Osbern in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 406 If ȝe shuld selle all this wode togedyr for redy syluer.
1550 R. Crowley One & Thyrtye Epigrammes sig. Eiii Thys lande he made sale and toke readye golde.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 42 Roger..left behinde him in readie coyne..fourtie thousand Markes.
1614 T. Gentleman Englands Way to win Wealth 27 The herrings they catch they sell..for ready gold; so that it amonnteth vnto a great sum of mony, that the Hollanders & Frenchmen do cary away.
1682 J. Scarlett Stile of Exchanges 222 When the Resconter is once made, its as effectual as if the Bill were paid with ready Cash.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 450. ⁋4 What advantage might be made of the ready Cash I had.
1747 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 580/1 To turn their wrought bullion into ready sterling.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock I. ii. 40 He had never known the ready-penny so hard to come by.
1885 Manch. Examiner 21 July 5/2 To pay down the price in ready cash.
1948 D. Thomas Let. 17 Nov. (1987) 692 When I last saw you, at Brighton time, I was rolling in ready cash. Now I have to roll on credit.
1973 Bridgeport (Connecticut) Post 20 June 64/8 A growing need for ready dollars to conduct business.
2006 Wanderlust Mar. 121/1 Take a mix of US dollars and bolivianos in ready cash.
12. Of payment or pay: made or given promptly and in full; not delayed or deferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > [adjective] > prompt
readya1400
prompt1766
plump1865
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 4835 Þar-for haue [a1400 Fairf. haue we] hidder soght And parti siluer wit vs broght Al redi penijs [a1400 Fairf. redy payment] for to tell.
1442 Rolls of Parl. V. 63/2 Redy paiement in hand be hadde for the dispences of the same Houshold.
1545 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 15 To poynd and dystrenye for the said rest and mak reddy payment thairof.
1590 tr. Coppie of Anti-Spaniard 8 Let vs sell our selues to him..alwayes prouided, that without faile he make vs readie paiment, not posting vs ouer with bonds, promises, delayes, and Spanish bragges.
1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 84 His promise should passe for ready pay, and for money told on the nayle.
1697 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) IV. 267 The earl of Oxford's regiments and the foot guards haveing now ready pay, notice is given to their quarters not to trust them.
1712 J. Norris Profitable Advice for Rich & Poor 46 At their first coming into the Country..could scarce purchase, at ready pay, a couple of Sows.
1797 J. Burney Meas. Recommended 6 In many cases, the party, who at a distant period was liable, would, for the discount being deducted, make ready payment.
1842 Green Bay (Wisconsin Territory) Republican 29 Jan. 3/4 Although it is like pulling eye teeth, we are compelled to say to customers that our present stock of goods will be disposed of for ready pay only.
1880 Harper's Mag. Jan. 177/1 Tradesmen and working-men found ready pay and constant employment.
1909 A. D. Noyes Forty Years of Amer. Finance v. 121 Nations as well as individuals will sometimes buy in excess of their means of ready payment.
1954 I. Morley Thousand Lives 42 The miners..were turbulent in their demands for full and ready pay.
2002 Variety (Nexis) 23 Sept. a2 Cash-starved at home, less-capitalized companies may accept at Mifed lower acquisition prices from abroad, especially if they involve ready payment.
13. Of a method or means to an end: that may swiftly and easily be employed; straightforward, practical. Cf. sense A. 10.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > easy (of way or method)
readya1425
prone1475
primrosy1901
painless1908
a1425 (?a1400) Pistle of Preier (Harl. 674) in Deonise hid Diuinite (1955) 50 (MED) Menes to gete þees two ben none redier þan ben þe goostly worching of þees two þouȝtes.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 2743 (MED) Medea..hath ful streytly cerched out & souȝt A redy weye vn-to hir purpos.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lviijv The rediest way to ouerthrow theyr authoritie.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 127 Euerie thing that is begun with reason Will come by readie meanes unto his end.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre v. vi. 238 Teaching covetousnesse..a readie way to assault them.
1672 J. Gregory Let. 23 Sept. in S. P. Rigaud & S. J. Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men 17th Cent. (1841) (modernized text) II. 236 The most ready general method..for determinating all equations.
1750 tr. C. Leonardus Mirror of Stones 97 This is the readiest way of knowing it.
1794 E. Pendleton Let. 7 Mar. in Lett. & Papers (1967) II. 626 The daily running of the Stage, will afford a ready means of procuring any papers from Richmond.
1841 G. Roberts Terms Trade & Comm. 43 Short, an expression of bankers when a cheque is cashed, not in small notes or gold, but by a short or ready method of giving one or more large notes.
1883 Law Times 20 Oct. 409/2 If invention be required, the readiest way to secure it is to give proper remuneration to the inventor.
1938 R. S. Woodworth Exper. Psychol. xxii. 540 The readiest way of experiencing expanse color is to close the eyes and observe the gray field of idioretinal light.
1960 F. G. Mann & B. C. Saunders Pract. Org. Chem. (ed. 4) ii. 233 It provides a ready method for the preparation of disubstituted α-hydroxy-carboxylic acids.
1998 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 22 Oct. 72/1 The ready way of dealing with all of this would be..to see Clifford as a man with the future in his bones, designing an anthropology for an oncoming age of global interconnection.
14. Of a device, etc.: indicating preparedness or readiness for use or action.
ΚΠ
1893 Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. 5 352 In all cases the stimulus was preceded by a ready-signal.
1894 ‘M. Twain’ in Atlantic Monthly May 18 In about an hour I heard de ready-bell, en den de racket begin.
1959 Independent Star-News (Pasadena, Calif.) 20 Dec. (advt.) The ultimate in coffee-making convenience..ready light..no drip spout.
1990 Boston Globe (Nexis) 7 Sept. 56 The game clock will be started on the referee's ready signal.
2003 G. Franklin Britain's Anti-submarine Capability, 1919–1939 iv. 78 Ships were then fitted with a ‘ready’ light which enabled the depth charge officer to indicate to the bridge when the next pattern was..ready to be fired.
B. adv.
1. = readily adv. Now rare.In later use chiefly (now only) in comparative and superlative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb]
soonc825
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
rekeneOE
rekenlyOE
thereright971
anonOE
forth ona1000
coflyc1000
ferlyc1000
radlyOE
swiftlyc1000
unyoreOE
yareOE
at the forme (also first) wordOE
nowOE
shortlya1050
rightOE
here-rightlOE
right anonlOE
anonc1175
forthrightc1175
forthwithalc1175
skeetc1175
swithc1175
with and withc1175
anon-rightc1225
anon-rights?c1225
belivec1225
lightly?c1225
quickly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
hastilyc1275
i-radlichec1275
as soon asc1290
aright1297
bedenea1300
in little wevea1300
withoute(n dwella1300
alrightc1300
as fast (as)c1300
at firstc1300
in placec1300
in the placec1300
mididonec1300
outrightc1300
prestc1300
streck13..
titec1300
without delayc1300
that stounds1303
rada1325
readya1325
apacec1325
albedenec1330
as (also also) titec1330
as blivec1330
as line rightc1330
as straight as linec1330
in anec1330
in presentc1330
newlyc1330
suddenlyc1330
titelyc1330
yernec1330
as soon1340
prestly1340
streckly1340
swithly?1370
evenlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
rifelya1375
yeplya1375
at one blastc1380
fresha1382
ripelyc1384
presentc1385
presently1385
without arrestc1385
readilyc1390
in the twinkling of a looka1393
derflya1400
forwhya1400
skeetlya1400
straighta1400
swifta1400
maintenantc1400
out of handc1400
wightc1400
at a startc1405
immediately1420
incontinent1425
there and then1428
onenec1429
forwithc1430
downright?a1439
agatec1440
at a tricec1440
right forth1440
withouten wonec1440
whipc1460
forthwith1461
undelayed1470
incessantly1472
at a momentc1475
right nowc1475
synec1475
incontinently1484
promptly1490
in the nonce?a1500
uncontinent1506
on (upon, in) the instant1509
in short1513
at a clap1519
by and by1526
straightway1526
at a twitch1528
at the first chop1528
maintenantly1528
on a tricea1529
with a tricec1530
at once1531
belively1532
straightwaysa1533
short days1533
undelayedly1534
fro hand1535
indelayedly1535
straight forth1536
betimesc1540
livelyc1540
upononc1540
suddenly1544
at one (or a) dash?1550
at (the) first dash?1550
instantly1552
forth of hand1564
upon the nines1568
on the nail1569
at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572
indilately1572
summarily1578
at one (a) chop1581
amain1587
straightwise1588
extempore1593
presto1598
upon the place1600
directly1604
instant1604
just now1606
with a siserary1607
promiscuously1609
at (in) one (an) instant1611
on (also upon) the momenta1616
at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617
hand to fist1634
fastisha1650
nextly1657
to rights1663
straightaway1663
slap1672
at first bolt1676
point-blank1679
in point1680
offhand1686
instanter1688
sonica1688
flush1701
like a thought1720
in a crack1725
momentary1725
bumbye1727
clacka1734
plumba1734
right away1734
momentarily1739
momentaneously1753
in a snap1768
right off1771
straight an end1778
abruptedly1784
in a whistle1784
slap-bang1785
bang?1795
right off the reel1798
in a whiff1800
in a flash1801
like a shot1809
momently1812
in a brace or couple of shakes1816
in a gird1825
(all) in a rush1829
in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830
straightly1830
toot sweetc1830
in two twos1838
rectly1843
quick-stick1844
short metre1848
right1849
at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854
off the hooks1860
quicksticks1860
straight off1873
bang off1886
away1887
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890
ek dum1895
tout de suite1895
bung1899
one time1899
prompt1910
yesterday1911
in two ups1934
presto changeo1946
now-now1966
presto change1987
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without difficulty or delay
lightlyOE
skeetc1175
readya1325
areadilya1375
redelya1375
readilyc1390
goodlyc1405
willingly1577
slightly1594
pliantly1673
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb] > promptly or readily
rifea1275
readya1325
readilyc1330
eagerly?a1400
vertely?a1400
alacriously1609
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adverb] > readily or promptly
rifea1275
fastlyc1275
gradelya1300
rada1325
readya1325
wellc1325
readilyc1330
fast1477
with a wet finger1542
forwardly1552
like one o'clock1847
up1870
like a shot1885
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 998 Al ðat euere ðe louered bad Dede abraham redi and rad.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 19638 Sai me..quat i sal do, þi will wil I do redi, lo!
c1450 (a1425) Metrical Paraphr. Old Test. (Selden) 5000 (MED) Now are ȝe fre, þen ware ȝe thrale; your corne, your catell, ox, and kye bus redy come vnto his call.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 319 He vnderstude al taknes perteineng to the flycht rady anuich.
1641 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. F. Biondi Hist. Civil Warres Eng. I. iii. 158 Giving him downe a ladder at the walles foote, that hee might the readier climb up.
1690–1700 Order of Hospitalls sig. Fivv To thintent that all things in your Office may be the rediar answered.
1698 T. D'Urfey Campaigners ii. ii. 15 That I may the readier find the place at my hour of appointment to morrow, I have resolv'd, tho it be dark, to stumble this way to night.
1712 R. Blackmore Creation vi. 267 The Earth-born Race Could move, and walk, and ready change their Place.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 345 Thou..canst seek, and readiest find comforts in the distresses and uses in the evils thou beholdest.
1799 R. Southey Eng. Eclogues in Poet. Wks. (1838) III. 20 There was not..A child who..answered readier through his Catechism.
1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South I. xxv. 312 Words come readier than deeds to most men.
1886 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. xxxiii Bringing forth a large caldron..she..heaped wood upon the hearth and fanned it to a fierce flame, the readier to boil its contents.
1910 W. B. Yeats Green Helmet 11 Now nothing but comes readier to the hand Than this accustomed toil.
†2. = already adv. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb] > already
alreadyc1300
readya1400
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 11251 (MED) Þou shalt aske deuoutely Anelyng to þy body; Þoȝt hyt be broȝt redy to þe, Asked behoueþ hyt algate be.
1450 Rolls of Parl. V. 204/2 Bi the opressing of the peple..he hath gretli enpovred and hurt the poure Ilond redy.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxxv. 150 At saynt Denyse were redy come the kynge of Behayne..and many other lordes.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cvv For redy comming is ye lord Talbot.., with a great puissaunt army.
1594 R. Holland Holie Hist. 267 Behold, the houre is now at hand, And ready come assuredly.
a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) (1946) 198 The victorie was reddy thare awne, gif [etc.].
C. int.
1. Used to give notice of a state of readiness. Formerly also acknowledging a call or summons.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 1 Duke. What, is Anthonio heere? Antho. Ready, so please your grace. View more context for this quotation
a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) ii. 28 S. Walt. It's neere high time, come Mr All-wit. All. Ready sir.
1706 Fashionable Lover i. 4 Wise. Well Daughter, are you Ready? Vil. Ready Sir!
1799 P. Hoare tr. A. von Kotzebue Sighs i. i. 9 V. Sn. Totum! Tot. (without) Ready, Mr. Von Snarl.
1839 W. H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard i. v. 227 ‘Ready!’ answered Smith, shaking himself, and producing a similar pair of weapons.
1898 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games II. 211 (heading) During the count the players ran round the stacks... When twenty was heard one would shout back ‘Ready!’. Then out came the catcher.
1918 in F. Boaz Kutenai Tales 71 Some one said: ‘Ready!’ Then they went to the shore.
1945 G. Atherton Golden Gate Country viii. 167 Colton asked: Are you ready? Terry replied: Ready.
2005 A. Fine Raking Ashes ix. 143 ‘Ready,’ he said, then added insolently, ‘I forgot to ask. Is this a fry-up?’
2. Military. Used as a word of command to soldiers to prepare themselves, esp. (in ready, aim, fire and variants) to prepare to fire a weapon.Shortened from make ready: see Phrases 1c(a). Cf. also ready about at Phrases 4.
ΚΠ
1799 J. MacDonald Treat. Pract. Field Artillery 13 No. 11 will give the words, ‘Point. Ready. Fire.’
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. at Manual The officers, instead of giving the words platoon, make ready,..are to pronounce the words short, as for instance, 'toon, ready.
1872 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 131/1 Stand where you are, and I will give the word of command. Now; ready, aim, fire!
1924 M. Minnigerode Fabulous Forties vii. 200 Suddenly the militia came to a startling, if inevitable, decision. ‘Ready, aim, fire!’
1942 E. King tr. T'ien Chün Village in Aug. iv. 88 ‘Ready! March!’
1991 G. Abbott Lords of Scaffold (BNC) 163 When oral commands were the order of the day, the three commands Ready, Aim, and Fire would be used.
3. In ready, steady, go! (also ready, set, go!): used as an instruction to competitors to prepare for the start of a race; also in extended use. Cf. (get) on your mark(s) at mark n.1 33b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [interjection] > instruction to competitors to start race
ready, steady, go!1918
1918 Indiana (Pa.) Weekly Messenger 3 Jan. 6/3 We want your help in the races and jumps and scampers. We need you to say, ‘Ready, set, go.’
1948 Amer. Speech 23 232 The expression ‘ready, steady—go!’ is often heard at track meets.
1960 G. W. Target Teachers 8 Right—ready, steady, go!
1986 Christian Sci. Monitor (Boston) (Nexis) 3 Jan. b6 ‘Ready, set, go!’—they're off.
2006 Birmingham Evening Mail (Nexis) 14 Mar. 23 Start games with ‘ready steady go’ to encourage listening and waiting.
D. n.
1. colloquial (chiefly British). Also in form reddy. Usually with the: ready money, cash. Now chiefly in plural: cash, esp. banknotes.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > [noun] > ready money or cash
ready money1429
argent-contentc1540
bitec1555
present money1572
chink1580
cash1600
bit1607
real money1675
fob?c1680
Darby1682
ready1684
blunt1819
makeready1830
hardshells1840
ante1843
spot cash1855
call money1856
necessary1897
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > paper money > [noun]
paper money1669
bank paper1696
paper1704
rag1797
scrieve1800
rag money1808
soft1809
soft currency1837
stamps1872
scratch1914
folding money1930
ready1937
1684 T. Otway Atheist v. 55 What Times are there stirring? What ready to be had?
1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia i. i. 2 Take up on the Reversion: 'Tis a lusty one; And Cheatly will help you to the Ready.
1712 J. Arbuthnot Law is Bottomless-pit iii. 8 He was not flush in Ready, either to go to Law or clear old Debts.
1784 R. Bage Barham Downs II. 136 Cherish your lovely spouse till you have got all her ready.
1822 W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel II. xii. 303 An estate in the north, which changes masters for want of the redeeming ready.
1872 W. Besant & J. Rice Ready-money Mortiboy iii ‘Some of the “ready”,’ he said..‘Gold, father—gold!’
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 690/2 Readies, money in bank..notes.
1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers i. 24 Not enough reddy in it in my case.
1974 D. Francis Knock Down xiv. 157 He sort of winks at me and gives me a thousand quid in readies.
1995 Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 5 Feb. 160/3 Logan City is trialling the use of credit cards for people without the readies who want to bail out impounded pets outside bank hours.
2.
a. Chiefly with the. A position which allows a firearm to be aimed and fired immediately. In extended use: a state of preparedness for immediate use. Now chiefly in at the ready.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > [adverb] > positions of weapon
at the high port1833
at the ready1837
at shoulder arms1844
society > armed hostility > drill or training > [noun] > weapon-training > manual exercise > position of weapon > specific
chargea1616
recover1692
secure1766
present1777
port arms1795
carry1802
salute1833
trail1833
ready1837
order1847
parade rest1862
slope1868
port1918
1837 J. E. Murray Summer in Pyrenees I. 55 I..found the guard with his musket at the ‘ready’.
1875 C. L. Ruggles Perils of Scout-Life 75 They brought their pieces to a ready, as if preparing to fire.
1897 Outing 29 427/2 I approach, my gun thrown forward at ready.
1931 A. Curtayne St. Anthony of Padua viii. 78 Galloping full tilt with vizor down and lance couched at the ready.
1955 Times 22 July 10/5 Others were more cautious, with fur capes or dark coats over their frocks and umbrellas at the ready.
1978 J. Carroll Mortal Friends i. iii. 30 The troops in the lorries were standing, rifles at ready.
1990 E. J. Howard Light Years 389 Nora..was seated at the dining-room table, pencil box at the ready, papers and pencils to hand.
†b. U.S. colloquial. With modifying adjective, as good ready, big ready. The condition of being (well) prepared to enter into a course of action; (also) an act of preparation. Chiefly in to get a good ready: to become fully prepared, to get a good start. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)] > assume favourable position for starting
to get a good ready1852
1852 E. A. McAuley Jrnl. 19 May in K. H. Holmes Covered Wagon Women (1997) IV. 47 We have now got a good ‘ready’ and this morning made a fresh start.
1878 B. F. Taylor Between Gates 71 A time hardly long enough for a century plant to get a good ready for blossoming.
1883 ‘M. Twain’ Life on Mississippi li. 500 I was on the bench of the pilot-house when we..‘straightened up’ for the start—the boat pausing for a ‘good ready’, in the old-fashioned way.
1897 A. H. Lewis Wolfville i. 2 So we begins to draw in our belts an' get a big ready.
3. Rope-making. A strand in a rope or cable.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > other manufactured or derived materials > [noun] > rope or cord > strand of rope
strand1497
twist1685
ready1851
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > rope collective or as material > strand or part of strand
strain1589
rope yarn1620
yarn1627
twist1685
ready1851
1851 U.S. Patent 8,617 2/1 The inner end of the thread or yarn can be drawn out, in the process of rope making in forming the ‘readies’ or strands of cordage.
1883 Man. Seamanship for Boys' Training Ships Royal Navy (1886) 125 You now commence to form the long-splice, by unlaying one strand, and filling up the space it leaves with the opposite strand next to it..these strands being composed of three small strands, which are called readies.
1957 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 546/1 As the strand is twisted it is wound on a large reel and appears as a smooth, round strand composed of a number of individual yarns. This is known as the ‘ready’.

Phrases

P1. to make ready.In most senses largely superseded by to get ready: see Phrases 3.
a. transitive (reflexive).
(a) To put oneself into a state of preparation; to prepare oneself. Chiefly with for or with infinitive.
ΚΠ
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 61 (MED) Þe seuen Aungels þat hadden þe seuen trumpes maken hem redy forto trumpen.
a1400 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Egerton) (1927) 1173 (MED) Þey made him redy to batayle anoon.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 425 He thaim commaunde to mak thaim redy fast.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xxxv. 184 I..made me ready for to ride my waye.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cxxviv The garrison made them ready and bent their ordinaunce.
1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden i. iii. 8 Trees cannot..make themselues ready to blossome.
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 61 The whole camp of Shaddai, should as one man stand to their Arms, and make themselves ready, if the Town of Mansoul shall hear, to receive it forthwith to mercy. View more context for this quotation
1706 tr. Count d'Elci Present State of Court of Rome 18 Many Cardinals..having already bent their Bows, and made themselves ready to strike at him in due time.
1796 C. Alexander tr. Virgil Wks. 543 He commands his allies, that they obey the signals, and prepare their minds for wars, and make themselves ready for combat.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 187 While she made her ready for her ride.
1899 S. R. Crockett Kit Kennedy xix. 131 With well-assured hearts the pair made themselves ready for what remained to be done.
1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out xxvi. 445 She made herself ready to go downstairs.
1960 A. S. Neill Summerhill ii. 110 Through his own efforts, he made himself ready for his apprenticeship.
2000 M. Kneale Eng. Passengers (2001) ix. 221 ‘Another unmissable wind, I suppose,’ I told the fellow, with some coolness, in answer to his impatient demand that I make myself ready to leave.
(b) spec. To dress oneself, make oneself presentable. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (reflexive)]
buska1350
arraya1400
richc1400
to make ready?a1425
enhabitc1485
revestera1500
dress1533
suit1576
rig1662
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 161 The oþer Corrours maken hem redy [?a1425 Egerton he makez redy for to ga; Fr. sappareile].
1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xvijv Whiche [Chapell] ye Freres kepe, & there they made theym redy in ornamentes & began there a very solempne procession.
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. f. 238v The mother aduertised of his comming, caused hir Daughter to make hir self ready, and to spare no costly iewels for adorning of hir beautie.
1603 T. Dekker et al. Patient Grissill sig. A4v Little girls that yesterday had scarce a hand to make them ready.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Suff. 67 Neatness he neglected into slovinlyness; and..may be said not to have made himself ready for some seven years.
1722 Mrs. Bradshaw in Lett. C'tess Suffolk (1824) I. 91 We repair to our own chambers and make ourselves ready; for it cannot be called dressing.
1776 Mem. Demi-rep of Fashion II. liii. 216 Amelia..began to be quite restless when she had made herself ready for the reception of Lord D—.
1857 C. Dickens Little Dorrit xvi. 142 He came to the final resolution, as he made himself ready for dinner, that he would not allow himself to fall in love with Pet.
1893 G. Gissing Odd Women II. i. 24 It was time for Virginia to make herself ready, and here arose a new perturbation; what had she suitable for wear under such circumstances?
1931 U. Sinclair Wet Parade xvi. 371 ‘That will be as soon as you can get dressed,’ he replied... Maggie May..went quickly to make herself ready.
b. transitive. To prepare, put in order (a thing); †to dress (a person) (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)]
wrya901
clothec950
shride971
aturnc1220
begoa1225
array1297
graith1297
agraithc1300
geara1325
cleadc1325
adightc1330
apparel1362
back1362
shape1362
attirea1375
parela1375
tirea1375
rayc1390
addressa1393
coverc1394
aguisea1400
scredea1400
shrouda1400
bedightc1400
buskc1400
harnessc1400
hatterc1400
revesta1449
able1449
dressa1450
reparel?c1450
adub?1473
endue?a1475
afaite1484
revestera1500
beclothe1509
trimc1516
riga1535
invest1540
vesture1555
suit1577
clad1579
investure1582
vest1582
deck1587
habit1594
to make ready1596
caparison1597
skin1601
shadow1608
garment1614
riga1625
raiment1656
garb1673
equip1695
to fit out1722
encase1725
tog1793
trick1821
to fig out1825
enclothe1832
toilet1842
to get up1858
habilitate1885
tailor1885
kit1919
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xxii. 6 (MED) Þou madest radi grace in my siȝt oȝayns hem þat trublen me.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) Num. iv. 16 Þees been þe chargys of þe sonys of caath..opon whom shal be Eliazar..to whoos cure hit perteyneþ oyle to þe lanternys to be made redy [L. ad concinnandas lucernas].
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iv. 1208 Atropos, make redy thow my beere.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 22 I se helle opyn & my place redy made þere.
c1480 (a1400) Prol. 95 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 3 Syne..lefit I nocht, til I had mad þaim redy.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxvi. 226 Theyr beddes were made redy.
a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) 185 They haue euer..tymber readye made to make a hondred gales or more.
1562 P. Whitehorne tr. N. Machiavelli Arte of Warre vii. f. ciiv The fortificacions beyng redy made.
1596 T. Danett tr. P. de Commynes Hist. v. ix. 173 Many a time haue I seene him made ready and vnready with great reuerence and solemnitie.
1640 W. Boswell in R. Parr Life J. Usher (1686) Misc. Lett. 27 There be great Preparations making ready against the Liturgy and Ceremonies of the Church of England.
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 85 Blocks, upon which..they divide their flesh, fish, or other things they intend to make ready.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 14 I began to resolve to go, and accordingly made all things ready.
1797 London Compl. Art Cookery 142 Make ready a liaison of two or three eggs and cream, with a little minced parsley and nutmeg.
1808 C. Stower Printer's Gram. 345 Making ready a Form.
1853 G. J. Cayley Las Alforjas I. 184 While our chocolate was being made ready.
1925 H. H. Richardson Fortunes Richard Mahony II. i. 123 Jerry and his bride had made ready their tiny weatherboard.
1966 Punch 30 Mar. 462/1 Huge stocks of the munitions of bacterial warfare, of mildew and rust, black spot, botrytis and scab, are being made ready for immediate use at call.
2001 K. Lette Nip 'n' Tuck 166 While we waited for our room to be made ready, Britney lay supine on a banana chair in her leopardskin bikini.
c. intransitive.
(a) To make preparations; to prepare oneself. Chiefly with for (formerly also †to) or with infinitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)]
buskc1330
agraith1340
to make readya1382
arraya1387
providec1425
prepare1517
addressa1522
apparel1523
bouna1525
buckle1563
to make frecka1572
fettle?c1600
fix1716
to set into ——1825
to show foot1825
ready1878
to fang a pump, (loosely) a well1883
prep1900
to get (oneself) organized1926
to sharpen one's pencil1957
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)]
yarec888
yarkc1000
graithc1175
readya1225
biredienc1275
to make yarec1290
forgraitha1300
adightc1330
buskc1330
purveyc1330
agraith1340
disposec1375
before-graithea1382
to forge and filec1381
to make readya1382
devisec1385
bounc1390
buss?a1400
address?a1425
parel?a1425
to get upc1425
providec1425
prepare1449
bakec1450
aready1470
arm?a1505
prevenea1522
get?1530
to get ready1530
to get ready1530
to set in readiness1575
apply1577
compose1612
predy1627
make1637
to dispose of1655
do1660
fallowa1764
to line up1934
prep1936
tee1938
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 2 Esdras viii. 10 Goþ & eteþ fatte thingis & drynkeþ Meth & sendeþ for hem þat han not maad redi to þemself.
a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) 4202 (MED) Þai spred clathes and salt on set And made redy vnto þe mete.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xix. 718 Thai turst harnas and maid reddy.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark xiv. f. lxvjv There make reddy for vs.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) 252 The King of Ingland was makand redy..witht ane greit airme and navie of scheipis to pase to France.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 172 To morrow you must die, goe to your knees, and make ready . View more context for this quotation
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 20 Make ready to board him.
1689 Perfect. Mil. Discipl. (1691) 91 The Rear Ranks of Musketiers make Ready.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 217 The Dutchess began to make ready for a Careen.
1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. 277 He cleared ship and made ready for action.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair xliv. 399 Becky, her husband and her son made ready and went to pass the holydays at the seat of their ancestors at Queen's Crawley.
1890 T. F. Tout in F. Y. Powell et al. Hist. Eng. III. 29 Bolingbroke..made ready for a revolution.
1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse iii. ii. 231 He had all the appearance of a leader making ready for an expedition.
1954 Bridgeport (Connecticut) Post 7 Sept. 1/4 The pick of the nation's beauty crop gathered here today and primped as they made ready to battle it out for the ‘Miss America 1955’ crown.
1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 9 Feb. 20/2 I would have assessed the degree of malice and made ready to run or tell him to bug off, depending.
(b) Printing. To prepare a form for printing. Cf. makeready n. 2. Also transitive.
ΚΠ
1841 W. Savage Dict. Art of Printing 468 In making ready, I will only speak of a form of fine work; if a pressman can do that, he surely can make common work ready.
1882 J. Southward Pract. Printing ix. 431 Begin to ‘make ready’—that is, get the impression equal and level over the whole forme.
1916 F. L. Shaw Printing Trades 39 The platen or cylinder pressman has to adjust the form on the bed, ‘make ready’ for printing, [etc.].
1941 Seventh Ann. Advertising & Publishing Production Yearbk. 301/4 Avoid these causes by: having good plates made from good copy; making ready carefully; [etc.].
2000 PrintWeek 25 Feb. 6/1 The networked press would enable the firm to make ready more quickly and accurately.
P2. ready to (also at) hand (formerly also †ready to (also at) a person's hand (also hands)): within easy reach; available for immediate or convenient use.See also hand n. Phrases 1a(a)(i).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > [adjective] > conveniently near
readyc1175
ready to (also at) handa1393
hend?a1513
forthcoming1521
handy1650
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > [adjective] > usable > available > readily
readyc1175
ready to (also at) handa1393
present1533
level1559
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 5055 (MED) His Ape..hadde gadred al aboute Of stickes..a route And leide hem redy to his hond.
c1450 (a1425) Metrical Paraphr. Old Test. (Selden) 2124 (MED) Hors, scheld, and spere haue þei redy at hend.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 822/2 Redy at hande, auant la mayn.
1582 Bible (Rheims) 2 Cor. x. 16 To preach the gospel, not to glory in another man's rule, in those things that are made ready to our hand.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xxvii. xii. 287 There is not an hearb or plant that they be more carefull..to haue alwaies ready at hand, than Polygonon.
1664 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders (new ed.) i. sig. e8 The Grecians the readiest at hand had their choice.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Table Systems of Numbers, calculated to be ready at Hand for the expediting Astronomical, Geometrical, &c. Operations.
1781 S. Johnson Pope in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets VII. 41 All the gay varieties of diction were ready at his hand.
1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit xlviii. 550 No credit is to be got out of such a way of life as that, where everything agreeable would be ready to one's hand.
1869 Harper's Mag. Feb. 371/2 The pardonable feminine deception which keeps ready to hand a piece of crochet-work or bead-ornamentation to be produced the moment a tap at the door announces a visitor.
1891 Law Times 90 315/2 The chief guide which both courts found ready to their hands.
1924 G. E. Hale Depths of Universe iii. 81 The means for testing the vortex hypothesis of electromagnetic fields in sun-spots lay ready at hand.
1950 ‘C. S. Forester’ Mr. Midshipman Hornblower ii. 62 Three pistols would not be too many against twelve desperate men who had makeshift weapons ready to hand, belaying pins and the like.
1992 M. Medved Hollywood vs. Amer. v. xvi. 267 When it comes to the perils of pessimism..Hollywood's facile defenders have a final glib answer ready to hand.
P3. to get ready.
a. to prepare, put in order (a thing); = to make ready (see Phrases 1b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)]
yarec888
yarkc1000
graithc1175
readya1225
biredienc1275
to make yarec1290
forgraitha1300
adightc1330
buskc1330
purveyc1330
agraith1340
disposec1375
before-graithea1382
to forge and filec1381
to make readya1382
devisec1385
bounc1390
buss?a1400
address?a1425
parel?a1425
to get upc1425
providec1425
prepare1449
bakec1450
aready1470
arm?a1505
prevenea1522
get?1530
to get ready1530
to get ready1530
to set in readiness1575
apply1577
compose1612
predy1627
make1637
to dispose of1655
do1660
fallowa1764
to line up1934
prep1936
tee1938
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (reflexive)] > in specific way
revesta1325
get?1530
to get ready1530
slovena1591
veil1614
wrap1647
fit1667
fetish1735
toff1914
1530 R. Whitford Werke for Housholders (new ed.) sig. A.iv Yf it were ones (by vse) goten redy & incorporate, & prynted in the herte & mynde.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 7 Let me not stay a iot for dinner, goe get it readie. View more context for this quotation
1674 tr. P. M. de la Martinière New Voy. Northern Countries 22 I caused the Horses and break-fast to be got ready.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 133 This morning we..got every thing ready to depart.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 129 I visited the hospital while breakfast was getting ready.
1889 J. Masterman Scotts of Bestminster II. viii. 27 The boats were got ready and the passengers collected.
1916 J. Martin Diary 12 Oct. in Sapper Martin (2010) 23 A small party of us were immediately despatched..to erect tents and get things ready for the others.
2010 S. Junger War i. v. 74 I was getting my gear ready for the experience.
b. to make preparations; = to make ready (see Phrases 1c(a)).
ΚΠ
1679 J. Davies tr. Appian Hist. i. vii. xxi. 220 Urged every one to get ready to march by the first Light.
1729 P. Walkden Diary 18 July (1866) (modernized text) 31 It being preparation day, I got ready for chapel.
1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate I. iii. 62 We'd better get ready for dinner now. I always dress, because papa likes to see it.
1890 T. F. Tout in F. Y. Powell et al. Hist. Eng. III. 24 France..got ready to resist invasion.
1914 M. Gyte Diary 2 Oct. (1999) 31 The girls are getting ready for the harvest thanksgiving which is being held tonight as well as next Sunday.
2007 T. Madigan Fuel & Guts iii. 29/1 The car..created bellows of nitro fumes as it got ready to launch.
P4. Nautical. ready about (formerly also †ready about O): used as a command to sailors to prepare to tack a vessel. Cf. about adv. 4b.
ΚΠ
1801 Naval Mag. 3 App. 1/2 About ship; or Ready About O—is the word of command to the sailors to prepare for tacking, or going about.
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 150 The master finds that the ship will not lay her course, and tells the chief mate to ‘see all clear for stays’, or ‘ready about’.
1893 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Ebb Tide v. 67 ‘Ready about,’ said the captain. ‘Give me the wheel, White Man, and you stand by the mainsheet.’
1943 A. Ransome Picts & Martyrs xv. 146 ‘Ready about,’ said Dick as they came near the shore of Long Island... ‘Just be ready to shift your weight across, and keep clear of the boom.’
1957 J. Schull Salt-water Men viii. 103 Orders would come so fast you could hardly follow them. ‘Haul up the mainsail,’ ‘Lay aft to the spanker sheet,’ ‘Ready about.’
1994 D. L. Seidman Compl. Sailor (1995) 42 When it's time to tack the skipper says ‘Ready about’ and bears off slightly (5 to 10 degrees) to pick up momentum for the turn.

Compounds

C1. Prefixed to past participles to indicate that the specified process has been carried out or completed in advance.In such compounds, ready is usually adjectival, but may in some cases be regarded as adverbial with the sense ‘already’; cf. sense B. 2.
a. In predicative use, as ready armed, ready bent, ready cooked, etc.In later use often hyphenated, as in sense A. 6c.
ΚΠ
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1620 (MED) Also daunces disgisi redi diȝt were.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. 449 Evere his bowe is redi bent.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. 2533 Fifty þousand knyȝtes here be-side, Redy armyd in platis and in maille.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 22 Than the kynge lette purvey a grete feste..And so the tyme drove on and all thynges redy ipurveyed.
1528 W. Tyndale Obed. Christen Man f. cxxviii Ye sotle foxe make ye gose come flyenge in to his hole ready prepared for his mouth with out his laboure.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Josh. iv. C Aboute a fortye thousande men ready harnessed to the warre.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. v. f. 26v Of gossampine cotton ready spunne foure great bottomes.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 813 Then the Orator Agnonides holding a decree in his hand ready wrytten, red it openly to the people.
1614 S. Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 2) v. xvii. 542 Duckes, sometimes raw, and sometimes ready dressed.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 212 Ready mounted are they to spit forth Their Iron indignation 'gainst your walles. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Vanbrugh Provok'd Wife iii. 27 If Woman had been ready created, the Devil..had been Married.
1713 A. Pope in Guardian 10 June Old Troy is ready burnt to your Hands.
1767 J. Woodforde Diary 24 July (1924) I. 64 My father sent me down a couple of fowls ready roasted.
1796 J. Woodforde Diary 15 Oct. (1929) IV. 314 They have let their House ready furnished to a Revd. Mr. Beevor.
1814 Q. Rev. Oct. 76 Coining words when he did not find them ready minted for his use.
1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. vi. 198 Clothes ready-made, and meat ready-cooked.
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) I. 107 The composition of potash-, soda-, and ammonia-alums found ready formed in nature.
1952 J. B. Oldham Eng. Blind-stamped Bindings 3 Sale of books ready-bound.
1974 M. Gilbert Flash Point xx. 165 He..had a stirrup pump, a relic of the last war, ready primed in the hall.
2000 Z. Sardar Consumption Kuala Lumpur 94 At amazing bargain prices you can buy washable silk in four-and-a-half metre pieces, ready-printed or hand-painted.
b. In attributive use. See also the attributive uses of ready-made adj. and ready-mixed adj.
ready-built adj.
ΚΠ
1777 G. White Jrnl. 11 June (1970) x. 138 The circumstance of the ready-built nest makes the brood so much the forwarder.
1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 290 (note) The Americans carried over ready-built houses for sale.
1946 Ogden (Utah) Standard Examiner 17 July 1/2 NHA now estimates manufacturers will turn out only between 90,000 and 100,000 ready-built dwellings in 1946.
2004 Adventure Trav. July 63/1 It [sc. a campsite] had all mod cons including a ready built fire pit.
ready-carved adj.
ΚΠ
1803 M. Wilmot Let. 31 May in M. Wilmot & C. Wilmot Russ. Jrnls. (1934) i. 13 Then ready carved bouillé, ready carved fricasées etc.
1904 M. W. Dunne tr. G. Flaubert Best Known Wks viii. 30 The steward, grave as a judge, offered ready-carved dishes between the shoulders of the guests.
1992 K. Horste Cloister Design & Monastic Reform in Toulouse iii. 76 I venture the hypothesis that..ready-carved examples left at the building site were used later by the second workshop.
ready-cooked adj.
ΚΠ
1800 Glasgow Misc. II. 289 Each of the relatives and friends carries from home a ready-cooked dish to go and dine with the family of the defunct.
1919 Outing Mar. 337/3 (advt.) Full-Meal is ready-cooked fresh beef, green peas, lima beans and rice, seasoned the way you like it best.
1990 Which? Apr. 204/2 We take you through the farm-to-shop stages of the food chain, using chilled, ready-cooked chicken as an example.
ready-folded adj.
ΚΠ
1866 Bangor (Maine) Daily Whig & Courier 15 Nov. 2/5 (advt.) Ready folded book covers, for covering books for public or private Libraries.
1964 McCall's Sewing in Colour xiii. 234/2 Ready-folded braid, these braids are of a woven bias construction.
2007 Journal (Newcastle) (Nexis) 26 Jan. 16 The kits contain ready-folded cards, envelopes, paper, ribbon, gems, stickers and lots of lovely embellishments to make the cards really stand out.
ready-furnished adj.
ΚΠ
1735 tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas IV. xi. ii. 184 We went then directly to a ready furnish'd House.
1816 J. Austen Emma III. i. 6 A ready-furnished house in a favourite spot was engaged, and much benefit expected from the change.
1932 Ogden (Utah) Standard-Examiner 20 Sept. 4/2 Ready furnished apartments are very handy when you must move in a hurry and have no chance to furnish the apartment yourself.
2004 Manch. Evening News (Nexis) 10 Feb. 20 The company aims to help minimise the impact of businesses moving offices by providing ready furnished office suites.
ready-ground adj.
ΚΠ
1840 Times 15 Feb. 3/2 The duty on 196lb. of ready-ground flour..would be the same as on 300lb. of unground wheat.
1925 Oneonta (N.Y.) Daily Star 15 Oct. 7/6 (advt.) The ready-ground coffee is sealed in vacuum tins.
1998 N. Lawson How to Eat (1999) 359 I do something that dismays purists and use ready-ground nuts.
ready-prepared adj.
ΚΠ
1767 Ess. Relig. & Morality xix. 76 If the author of nature, should in our present state, shower ready prepared food and physic from heaven among us, the beautiful variety of arts..would cease.
1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid. II. iii. x. 193 Ready-prepared and scientifically-planted ground.
1920 P. J. Fryer Insect Pests & Fungus Dis. Fruit & Hops xlii. 607 There are several ready-prepared Bordeaux powders and pastes on the market.
1991 A. Granger Season for Murder (BNC) 125 No one could go wrong with frozen ready-prepared Kievs.
ready-rolled adj.
ΚΠ
1884 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 9 June 6 The new American and French machinery for making ready-rolled cigarettes has been introduced.
1985 Sunday Mail (Austral.) (Nexis) 3 Feb. Cut the ready-rolled pastry into circles.
2001 Big Issue 27 Dec. 5/3 The Dutch Experience ‘coffee-shop’ began selling..ready-rolled joints for novices.
ready-roasted adj.
ΚΠ
1650 Dialogue Mistris Macquerella 4 Take a speciall caution How you doe deal In Lamb and Veal, Raw, or ready roasted.
1673 J. Phillips Maronides vi. 106 Down come the ready roasted Quails, Pheasant and Partridge, Ducks and Teals.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison IV. xviii. 144 He makes her..become herself the cat's paw to help him to the ready-roasted chestnuts.
1849 H. Melville Mardi I. x. 49 If we fall in with cannibals, thought I, then, ready-roasted Norseman that thou art, shall I survive to mourn thee; at least, during the period I revolve upon the spit.
1931 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. 28 Feb. 5/4 She rocked off into the other room..returning to unveil the ready roasted chicken..she had brought in.
1991 F. Pitt-Kethley Misfortunes of Nigel (BNC) 91 It was worth the expense of ready-roasted game and home-made puddings and cakes, Nigel felt, to cover up.
ready-shelled adj.
ΚΠ
1871 London Society June 545/1 The centre of the table is occupied by a large dish with an elegant pyramid of a peck or so of ready shelled shrimps.
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 23 May 281/2 Bud Floyd and his wife Debbie tortured in their antiseptic, ready-shelled, air-conditioned inferno.
2007 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 3 Jan. 13 Supermarket shoppers now have the luxury of buying ready-shelled peas from Kenya in the bleak midwinter.
ready-sliced adj.
ΚΠ
1822 Maryland Gaz. 24 Oct. 1/3 PUG, without waiting to examine the bill of fare, placed himself by a dish of ready-sliced plum-pudding, and sans ceremonie, helped himself.
1915 Legislative, Executive, & Judicial Appropriation Bill (Hearings before U.S. Senate Comm. on Appropriations) 192 Prices are desired for bacon that does not contain ribs, but not for fancy, ready-sliced bacon in jars or small packages.
1998 N. Lawson How to Eat (1999) 469 Or use a packet of ready-sliced mixed mushrooms; some are sold with a pat of herb or garlic butter already in.
ready traced adj.
ΚΠ
1845 C. Cocks tr. J. Michelet Priests, Women & Families ii. vii. 252 The father makes a mistake,..and seeks the profitable and ready traced career.
1884 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily Gaz. 8 Feb. 5/4 (advt.) These transfering [sic] papers..enable ladies to trace upon their own materials. This being much less expensive than purchasing ready traced articles.
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage iv. 94 As the firm also sold ready traced materials and supplied the threads for working them, Morris's influence was widespread.
ready-trained adj.
ΚΠ
1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 84 Ready trained trees..may be obtained at all the public nursery grounds.
1886 Marion (Ohio) Daily Star 9 Apr. 2/3 If the noble sport of falconry should ever come into fashion again ready trained Kestrels could be imported from western China.
1946 Nature 5 Oct. 491/1 In research on the problems of an old traditional industry there are usually no ready-trained scientific workers.
2007 Daily Mail (Nexis) 26 Apr. 66 The policy..was to send a controller in unexpectedly with one of their own ready-trained managers and ruthlessly oust the existing one.
ready-written adj.
ΚΠ
1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid. II. iii. iv. 62 A mass of ready-written evidence.
1950 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 9 July 5B/1 The case of Lui Fook was different. It was a ready-written detective story—with one fatal flaw.
1993 Music & Lett. 74 577/1 Some lutenists bought books of ready-written tablature.
C2. Parasynthetic. See also ready-witted adj.
a.
ready-handed adj.
ΚΠ
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 206 That..causeth the falling downe of the Arse-gut, a fearefull accident, except the Surgeon be very carefull, diligent, and ready handed.
1716 tr. H. van Deventer Art Midwifery Improv'd xxxii. 158 The Use of them is very dangerous, especially if the Midwife or Surgeon is not very careful, or ready handed.
1881 J. S. Blackie Lay Serm. i. 37 Ready-handed interpretations of judgments.
1925 C. Sandburg A. Lincoln I. xvi. 58 One of the sisters worth talking about was the big-hearted, ready-handed Betsy Sparrow.
2001 A. Moyal Platypus (2002) xi. 143 This ready-handed army packed off the materials for the research papers which Owen penned regularly on extinct Australian species.
ready-headed adj.
ΚΠ
1657 J. Trapp Comm. Job xxxii. 6 Some young men are ripe betime, and more ready-headed than their ancients.
1826 A. Cunningham Paul Jones II. vii. 189 Ane of the seven Rabsons of Rideabout—a rid-handed, ready-headed race.
1902 N. Hawkins Maxims & Instr. for Boiler Room 44 Don't fail to be alert and ready-minded and ready-headed about the boiler and furnace.
ready-hearted adj.
ΚΠ
1851 L. L. Clarke Island of Alderney 113 The simple, ready-hearted islanders built huts for the brethren, who willingly remained amongst them.
1937 A. L. Rowse Sir Richard Grenville ii. 31 So ready-hearted, so busy and generous about life's affairs.
2003 D. R. Shackleton Bailey tr. Statius Thebaid iii. 195 Sword-girt and ready-hearted, do we hang in doubt at the plebeian threshold of a single citizen?
† ready-penned adj. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1771 Hist. Sir William Harrington IV. 77 You have no ready penn'd sister.
1879 Sat. Rev. 22 Feb. 821/2 He finds it very difficult to fill one sheet of paper with MS. for a ready-penned friend who lately sent him two.
ready-winged adj.
ΚΠ
1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades viii. 146 He sendeth Iris vnto them that readie winged wight.
1713 R. Fern Pract. Disc. Humane Bodies vii. 93 To be a ready Winged Instrument in divine Services and Commands.
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda IV. viii. lxiii. 247 Ready-winged speech.
1929 Times 12 July 15/6 His repartee was ready winged.
b.
ready-smiling adj.
ΚΠ
1863 G. Eliot Romola II. ii. ix. 89 I like to see your ready smiling Messeri caught in a sudden wind and obliged to show their lining in spite of themselves.
1940 E. Blunden Poems 1930–40 252 Bright-tressed, ready-smiling, April-eyed.
2004 Independent (Nexis) 15 Apr. 10 Pryce, a taller figure than I had imagined, contained and initially slightly wary, in contrast to his partner's ready-smiling, less guarded warmth.
C3. With a following element forming adjectives denoting preparedness or convenience for that which is denoted by the second element.
a. With nouns, as ready-reference, ready-use.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > [adjective] > information retrieval > quick
ready-reference1846
quick reference1906
quick-look1964
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [adjective] > types of ammunition
tower-proof1673
ready-use1846
shelled1900
1846 Times 17 Dec. 11/4 (advt.) Document bands, made of..patent vellum affording ready reference security, and uniformity of arrangement for commercial and professional documents, papers and letters.
1878 Times 17 May 7/4 She..is to be provided with a complement of boats..boxes for shells, case shot, and ‘ready use’ service, arm stands, and signal boxes.
1928 G. Campbell My Myst. Ships xiv. 250 A lucky shot from her might ‘touch off’ any of the ready-use ammunition which was at the guns.
1963 Amer. Notes & Queries Jan. 77/1 The book..can be used as a ready reference tool to answer questions about nearly all basic biological research in modern times.
2001 Routing Feb. 13/2 I have now made a ready-use block to hold a spanner and the cutters I need for the job in hand.
2003 P. Poplawski Encycl. Literary Modernism Pref. p.vii It is surprising..to find a relative dearth of ready reference material devoted specifically to literary modernism.
b. With infinitive, as ready-to-serve, ready-to-use, etc. See also ready-to-wear adj.
ΚΠ
1855 R. Browning Holy-Cross Day in Men & Women II. 158 And a moving sight in truth, this, of so many of the besotted, blind, restive and ready-to-perish Hebrews!
1887 G. M. Hopkins Further Lett. (1956) 379 Publishers ‘tapped a stratum’..of almost untouched reading or ready-to-read public.
1893 Bucks County (Pa.) Gaz. 3 Aug. 2/6 The wonder is how that Yankee genius can put such exact hems and such fine stitching into the ready-to-use Sheets and Pillow Cases.
1935 Good Housek. (N.Y.) June (rear cover) (advt.) Wheaties bring real whole wheat..in a ready-to-serve form that children adore.
1959 Times 9 Mar. (Suppl.) p. vi/3 Preparing cartons of frozen ready-to-cook chickens.
1976 N. Roberts Face of France v. 66 A civilisation of leisure will be raring for ready-to-eat pork products.
1997 B. Rowlands Which? Guide Complementary Med. 111 You can keep a ready-to-use herbal product in its own container, but store loose-leaf tea in a tightly closed tin.
2006 Food Service Director (Nexis) 15 Oct. 48 Just add the ready-to-serve sauce to cooked beef and broccoli florets for an authentic Beef Broccoli dish.
c. With for and noun, as ready-for-anything, ready-for-wear, etc.
ΚΠ
1891 San Antonio (Texas) Daily Light 26 May (advt.) We would like to have every young man in San Antonio examine our form, fitting and stylish ready-for-wear clothing.
1907 N.Y. Times 14 Sept. 4 Through this store's efforts a new attitude toward ready-for-service clothing has been adopted by hundreds of men.
1930 Times 17 Mar. 9/4 A new spring catalogue giving illustrations of their ready-for-wear clothes has been prepared.
1950 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. 22 Oct. 30/2 Behold..a gay, ready-for-anything YOU.
1997 Face June 64/1 Her It Girl breeding, her pistol-packing sawn-off shorts, her ready-for-anything knapsack and her Comaneci gymnastic skills.
2000 AFX European Focus (Nexis) 29 Mar. Given..the limited ability of ready-for-service homes during 1999 our initial market share is very encouraging.
C4.
† ready boune adj. Obsolete fully prepared, ready for action.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11595 Sone was ioseph redi boune.
1578 Compend. Bk. Godlie Psalmes (new ed.) 198 Thairfoir leif weill, be reddy bowne.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iv. 145 A band of war Has for two days been ready boune.
ready-making n. the action or an act of making ready; preparation.
ΚΠ
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Appareillement, a preparing, prouiding, readie-making.
a1862 F. J. O'Brien Poems & Stories (1881) 112 As from many a low-roofed farmhouse flashed the lights of merry-making, Rose the note of ready-making for the merriment to come.
2004 Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nexis) 24 Dec. B1 Many residents..were busying themselves with lastminute gift shopping and other holiday ready-making.
ready meal n. chiefly British a foodstuff or dish (esp. a main course) sold ready to eat or requiring only brief preparation; (now) spec. a complete meal which requires only brief heating in a microwave or conventional oven; cf. TV dinner n. at TV n.1 Compounds 4.
ΚΠ
1952 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. A. 115 484 (table) Meat puddings... Meat roll, etc... Ready meals (stewed steak, M. and V., etc.).
1972 A. G. Ward in G. G. Birch et al. Health & Food ix. 105 Intensive catering systems, involving central preparation of ready meals for local service, is likely to prove increasingly attractive financially.
1997 M. Ravenhill Shopping & Fucking (rev. ed.) ii. 18 Enter Lulu with two microwaved ready meals on a tray.
ready rhino n. slang (now rare) money; cf. D. 1.
ΚΠ
1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia iii. i. 47 Look you Sir, I have Ready, Rhino, Cole, Darby; look here Sir!]
1697 Tom Brown's Let. from Shades 1/1 H'ast thou for this spent so much Ready Rhino?
1699 J. Dunton Dublin Scuffle 349 'Twas pretty to see the Squire choused out of so fair an Estate with so little ready Rino.
1796 J. Anstey Pleader's Guide i. 66 Not one of all the trade that I know, E'er fails to take the Readyrino.
1873 Mrs. Alexander Wooing O't II. iv. 81 I wish I could find a straightforward, pushing young man with a trifle of ready rhino, for a partner in the concern.
1902 F. C. de Sumichrast tr. T. Gautier Captain Fracasse II. viii. 23 Now, my old friends, if you are strapped for ready rhino, help yourselves freely.
ready room n. U.S. Military a room (esp. on board an aircraft carrier) in which pilots are briefed, prepare for their missions, and await orders to fly.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > room, locker, or quarters > [noun] > other specific rooms on naval vessel > in aircraft carrier
ready room1930
1930 Hearings, Navy Appropriation Bill for 1931 (U.S. Congr. House Comm. Appropriations) 31 (table) Construction and Repair... W.C. in aviators' ready room.
1994 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 26 Nov. 4/2 The first bomb detonated immediately below the flight deck in the Number 4 ready room.
ready-salted adj. chiefly British designating any of various foodstuffs, esp. potato crisps, that have been seasoned with salt before sale.Prior to the introduction of ready-salted potato crisps, bags of unflavoured crisps were sold with a sachet of salt, to be added by the consumer.
ΚΠ
1968 Times 14 May 5/2 In 1965..ready salted crisps accounted for 67%..of all crisps bought in the U.K.
2001 Irish News (Nexis) 21 Nov. 40 Rush out for a bag of ready salted peanuts.
2018 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 15 June 5 Supermarket salads have up to eight times the salt of a bag of ready-salted crisps.
ready-sensitized adj. Photography (now rare) (of a paper, plate, etc.) that has been sensitized to light in advance.
ΚΠ
1865 Trans. Microsc. Soc. 13 41 A sure and simple plan for employing such a substance as a ready sensitized collodion, which can be used wet.
1932 Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) 15 Mar. 2/1 Eastman then turned his attention to improving print paper with the result that ready-sensitized paper replaced the albumenized sheets that needed treatment.
1950 Penrose Ann. 44 123 Pigment paper is susceptible to stretch and bad registration. A ready-sensitized ‘conditioned’ paper..is naturally less prone to this fault.
† ready stock n. Obsolete a state of financial surplus or credit.
ΚΠ
1661 A. Cowley Vision Cromwell 62 He found the Common-wealth..in a ready stock of about 800m pounds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

readyv.

Brit. /ˈrɛdi/, U.S. /ˈrɛdi/
Forms: see ready adj., adv., int., and n.; also early Middle English readeȝige (transmission error), late Middle English redyedy (past tense, transmission error).
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: ready adj.
Etymology: < ready adj. Compare redd v.2, rede v.2
I. To make ready, prepare.
1.
a. transitive. To make (a thing) ready; to prepare or put in order. In later use also with up.In quot. a1225: to administer, regulate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)]
yarec888
yarkc1000
graithc1175
readya1225
biredienc1275
to make yarec1290
forgraitha1300
adightc1330
buskc1330
purveyc1330
agraith1340
disposec1375
before-graithea1382
to forge and filec1381
to make readya1382
devisec1385
bounc1390
buss?a1400
address?a1425
parel?a1425
to get upc1425
providec1425
prepare1449
bakec1450
aready1470
arm?a1505
prevenea1522
get?1530
to get ready1530
to get ready1530
to set in readiness1575
apply1577
compose1612
predy1627
make1637
to dispose of1655
do1660
fallowa1764
to line up1934
prep1936
tee1938
a1225 ( Rule St. Benet (Winteney) (1888) 21 Swa swa hit ȝerysað þat þa ȝingran þam yldrum hyran, swa eac bycumð þat se abbodesse wærlice and mid ryhte readeȝige [OE Corpus Cambr. gestyhtige and gesette; L. disponere] ealle þing.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) Apoc. xvi. 12 The sixte aungel shedde out his viole in to the ilke greet flood Eufrates and driede the watir of it, that weie were rediede [v.rr. redy, maad redy; L. præpararetur] to kyngis fro the sunne risynge.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) vii. 13 His bow he has bent and redid [L. parauit] it.
a1500 (?1382) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 181 If þou doist away synne, þou rediest Goddis weye.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 5648 All the renkes to row redyn hor shippes.
1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 23 This readied, set-to one string of wyre, strong, big, and stretched inough.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 5) 587 When a great portion is readied for them, diverse parents thinke they have done enough.
1762 S. Derrick Coll. Trav. II. 124 Shaving, paring of nails, folding up linen, readying baths, keeping hawks [etc.].
a1849 J. Keegan Legends & Poems (1907) 111 Hould your gob..and go ready the room for the dacint boys to sit down.
1864 Harper's Mag. Apr. 616/1 The pot ought to be a-bilin' for dinner, and the Kitchen to be readied up.
1867 E. Waugh Owd Blanket iii. 53 Come in, an' sit tho deawn while eawr lasses getten yon kitchen readied (made right) a bit.
1934 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 July 38/1 This has invited the All-Blacks to call in on their way back from their tour of Britain next year and get what is being readied up for them.
1959 R. E. Watters Check List Canad. Lit. p. xiii To the Editor, Miss Francess G. Halpenny, who readied the manuscript for the printers,..I am heavily indebted.
2004 N. Stephenson Confusion 732 They dropped anchor in the deepest water they could find and readied the ship to wait out the storm.
b. transitive. British regional (chiefly Scottish). To prepare (food) for eating; to dress or cook (food, esp. meat).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > prepare food [verb (intransitive)]
ready1721
1721 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. I. i. v. 199 He had nothing but Barley for his Bread, and his Fuel to ready it with was Sea-tangle and Wrack, and had no more to preserve his miserable Life.
1736 A. Gairdner Further Acct. State Orphan-school 6 The elder Girls assist in washing and dressing the Clothes, readying the Victuals [etc.].
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus i. v. 15/1 Can a Tartar be said to Cook, when he only readies his steak by riding on it?
1881 H. Smith & C. R. Smith Isle of Wight Words 28 That pork esn't readied enough.
1901 S. R. Crockett Cinderella xli. 288 Megsy Tipperlin, that ‘readied’ meat for your faither and your faither's faither.
1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 272/1 Ready,..2. to get (food) ready.
2.
a. transitive (reflexive). To make oneself ready; to prepare oneself.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (reflexive)]
yarec888
yarkc1000
graithc1230
dightc1275
to make yarec1290
arrayc1320
tirec1330
agraith1340
buska1350
readya1350
dressc1350
shapec1374
disposec1375
ordainc1380
rayc1380
makec1390
bouna1400
updressa1400
fettlec1400
address1447
ettlec1450
aready1470
to make oneself forth1488
busklea1555
poise1639
arrange1865
a1350 St. Laurence 51 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Leg. (1881) 113 Þarfore, lady, redy þe, For here saltou noght ful lang be.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 5040 (MED) Þese childre..redied hem forþ to wende.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4925 (MED) Þe scottis..to fight þaim redyd [rhyme tyde].
a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 10 (MED) Thay..redied ham to hold ham with-yne the wallys with streynthe.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 782 In Ryall array he reddyit him to ryde.
1609 Lives 19 Late Pyrates sig. C 3v They redied themselues for a needfull defence, so that betwixt them straight was a cruell fight.
1864 B. Lloyd Ladies Polcarrow 41 They readied and steadied themselves as best they might.
1892 S. A. Brooke Hist. Early Eng. Lit. II. xvii. 105 One of his thegns sprang up and readied him for the journey.
1950 J. D. MacDonald in Thrilling Wonder Stories Oct. 26/2 I suggest that we contact the A-list of all League personnel and advise them to ready themselves for basic flight procedure.
1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 19 Jan. (Suppl.) 1/3 I had spent an hour and a half readying myself and prettying up.
1988 N. Lowndes Chekago ii. 69 Now that Bobby stood in front of him he sensed obscurely that she had readied herself for a confrontation.
2004 R. Weitz Rapunzel's Daughters v. 116 She cut her hair pixie-short to ready herself emotionally for the work world.
b. transitive. To prepare (a person), to make ready for; spec. (chiefly North American) to train (a person) for a competition. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person
dightc1275
season1604
make1605
candidate1628
ready1834
groom1887
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 730 There hae been a power o' lair waired on me to ready me for't.
1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 78 He's to be readied at any downey move, and knows how to work it.
1895 J. Barlow Strangers at Lisconnel 303 Nothin' else 'ud suit them except gettin' all readied up for us to be slinkin' out in the evenin' late.
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey ii. ix. 198 I'll put you wise about our authors, and ready you up to go before Peter.
1940 Sun (Baltimore) 27 Feb. 13/2 Johnny Paycheck already has been matched with him. Lee Savold is being readied for a shot at him.
1988 Muscular Dev. Nov. 28/1 The author taps the brain of Wolverine strength coach Mike Gittleson as to his philosophies for readying players on such limited regimens.
2005 Dunoon Observer & Argyllshire Standard 22 Apr. 2/2 The patient can be readied and taken to the helicopter.
c. intransitive. With to or for. To get or make ready; to prepare oneself.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare or get ready [verb (intransitive)]
buskc1330
agraith1340
to make readya1382
arraya1387
providec1425
prepare1517
addressa1522
apparel1523
bouna1525
buckle1563
to make frecka1572
fettle?c1600
fix1716
to set into ——1825
to show foot1825
ready1878
to fang a pump, (loosely) a well1883
prep1900
to get (oneself) organized1926
to sharpen one's pencil1957
1878 Fraser's Mag. Nov. 595 From far The rookery croaks reply, Hoarse, deep, as veterans readying for war.
1939 Chicago Tribune 7 Oct. 13/7 If the father and mother had any fear in their hearts, they didn't betray it to the youngster who was readying to leave.
1959 S. Plath Jrnl. 25 Sept. (2000) 505 Again woke to hear Ted readying for fishing. Foolishly griped at being woken.
1972 Time 17 Apr. 22 (caption) In a cloud of catapult steam, a U.S. jet readies to attack Viet Nam.
1999 I. Rankin Dead Souls xxxii. 252 Rebus..didn't want to intrude upstairs, not with Brian readying for bed.
2003 Wall St. Jrnl. 18 Dec. a18/5 We are not yet readying to leave Iraq.
†3. transitive. To instruct (a person) in a matter. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > enjoin or instruct
enjoin1297
charge1303
informa1387
charche1399
inditec1399
joinc1400
instructa1500
encharge?1533
conjoin1591
ready1600
directa1616
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxiv. lxi. 886 He redied him in the names of all those persons with whom he was to talke.
1613 T. Cooper Estates of Hypocrite 26 The spirit readies vs herein.
4. slang. To prepare in a negative sense.
a. transitive. Horse Racing. To prevent (a horse) from running well in a race, esp. in order to secure a handicap in another. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > ride horse in race [verb (transitive)] > actions of rider
bore1677
jostle1723
pinch1740
pull1781
rope1854
screw1855
corner1861
ride1863
ready1887
poach1891
nurse1893
to ask (a horse) the question1894
stiffen1900
shoo1908
rate1946
stop1954
niggle1963
1887 W. Black Sabina Zembra 38 ‘Readying’ a horse and running it out of form so as to scoop the big handicap.
1889 Sat. Rev. 2 Nov. 489/2 A handicap of 10,000l. will, indeed, be worth ‘readying’ a horse for.
1927 E. Wallace Mixer iv. 58 He sat..deploring inwardly the tendency of owners to ‘ready’ their horses for Epsom.
b. transitive. Australian, New Zealand, and Irish English. With up. To prepare in an improper or dishonest manner; to manipulate, pervert; to fix, falsify. Cf. ready-up n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > duping, making a fool of > befool, cheat, dupe [verb (transitive)] > alter or manipulate something for the purpose of deception
cook1636
doctor1750
fake1819
rig1826
ready2004
1893 Melbourne Age 25 Nov. 13/2 It has been said that a great deal has been ‘readied up’ for the jury by the present commissioners.
1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Nov. 33/1 All readied-up, I thought, though not bad fun.
1940 V. Palmer National Portraits 33 That treaty was to become a great joke among the wits of the island... There really was something ridiculous about the documents that Gellibrand had readied up and that Batman took so seriously after he had carried out his absurd ceremonies.
2004 Irish Independent (Nexis) 22 Jan. Detailed evidence from James Gogarty exposed how the normal planning process had been ‘readied up’ with a false sequence of events.
†II. To direct.
5.
a. transitive. To direct (one's course). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct (one's course, steps, etc.) [verb (transitive)]
stretcha1225
turnc1275
ready?a1400
seta1400
incline?c1400
apply?a1425
raika1500
rechec1540
make1548
address1554
frame1576
bend1579
to shape one's course1593
intend1596
tend1611
direct1632
steer1815
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 315 (MED) To Scotlond now he fondes to redy his viage.
b. transitive (reflexive). To direct or guide oneself. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct one's course [verb (reflexive)]
turnc1175
stretcha1225
bowc1275
steer1399
straighta1400
ready?a1425
purposec1425
address1436
applya1450
shape1480
make1488
aima1500
bound1821
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 123 Noman cowde redye [Fr. nadresseroit] him perfitely toward the parties þat he cam fro but ȝif it were be aventure.
c1450 Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) 53 She [sc. the soul] shal neede thee for to redye [Fr. adrecier] thee in thi wey.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 91 Eche good Cristen man..owith to redy him toward þe wey of heuen by praiers, fastyng [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.int.n.c1175v.a1225
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