Read"y , v. t. To dispose in order. [Obs.]
Heywood.
Read"y , n. Ready money; cash; -- commonly with the; as, he was well supplied with the ready. [Slang]
Lord
Strut was not flush in
ready, either to go to law, or to clear old debts.
Arbuthnot.
Read"y (r&ebreve;d"&ybreve;), adv. In a state of preparation for immediate action; so as
to need no delay.
We
ourselves will go ready armed.
Num. xxxii. 17.
Read"y (r&ebreve;d"&ybreve;), a.
[Compar. Readier (-&ibreve;*&etilde;r); superl. Readiest.]
[AS. r&aemacr;de; akin to
D. gereed, bereid, G. bereit,
Goth. garáids fixed, arranged, and possibly to E. ride, as meaning originally, prepared for riding. Cf. Array, 1st Curry.]
1. Prepared for what one
is about to
do or experience; equipped or
supplied with what is needed for some act or event; prepared for immediate movement or action; as, the troops are ready to march; ready for the journey. "When she redy was."
Chaucer.
2. Fitted or arranged for immediate use; causing no delay for
lack of being prepared or furnished. "Dinner was ready." Fielding.
My oxen and my
fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Matt. xxii. 4. 3. Prepared in mind or disposition; not reluctant; willing; free; inclined; disposed.
I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name
of the Lord
Jesus.
Acts xxi. 13.
If need be, I am ready to forego
And quit.
Milton.
4. Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind; dexterous; prompt; easy; expert; as, a ready apprehension;
ready wit; a ready writer or workman. "Ready
in devising expedients." Macaulay.
Gurth, whose temper was ready, though surly.
Sir W. Scott. 5. Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient; near; easy. "The readiest way." Milton.
A sapling pine he wrenched from out the
ground,
The
readiest weapon that
his fury found.
Dryden.
6. On the
point; about; on the brink;
near; -- with a following infinitive.
My heart is
ready to crack.
Shak.
7. (Mil.) A word of command, or a
position, in the manual of
arms, at which the piece is cocked and held in position to execute promptly the next command, which is, aim.
All ready, ready in every particular; wholly equipped or prepared. "[I] am all redy at your hest."
Chaucer. -- Ready money, means of immediate payment; cash. "'T is
all the ready money fate can give." Cowley. -- Ready
reckoner, a book of tables for facilitating computations, as of interest, prices, etc.
-- To make ready, to make preparation; to get in readiness.
Syn. -- Prompt; expeditious; speedy;
unhesitating; dexterous; apt; skillful; handy; expert; facile; easy; opportune; fitted; prepared; disposed; willing; free; cheerful. See Prompt.
Hear it pronounced