Soon , a. Speedy; quick. [Obs.]
Shak.
Soon (?), adv. [OE. sone, AS. s&?;na;
cf. OFries. s&?;n, OS. sāna, sāno, OHG. sār, Goth. suns.]
1. In a short time; shortly after any time specified or supposed; as, soon after sunrise. "Sooner
said than done." Old Proverb. "As soon as it
might be." Chaucer.
She finished,
and the subtle fiend his lore
Soon learned.
Milton. 2. Without the usual delay; before any time supposed; early.
How is it that ye are come so
soon to- day?
Ex. ii.
18. 3. Promptly;
quickly; easily.
Small lights
are soon blown out, huge fires abide.
Shak. 4. Readily; willingly; -- in this sense
used with would, or some other
word expressing will.
I
would as soon see a
river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is
tossed up in so
many whimsical figures at Versailles.
Addison. As soon as,
or So soon as, immediately at or after another event. "As soon as
he came nigh unto the
camp . . . he saw the calf,
and the dancing." Ex. xxxii. 19.
See So . . . as, under So. -- Soon at, as soon as; or, as soon as the time referred to arrives. [Obs.] "I shall be sent
for soon at night." Shak. --
Sooner or later, at some uncertain time in the future; as, he
will discover his mistake sooner or later. -- With the soonest, as soon as any; among the earliest; too soon. [Obs.] Holland.
Hear it pronounced