Definition

Happening at an inappropriate or inconvenient time.

Example

His untimely arrival disrupted the meeting.

Conversation

Did you hear about the meeting that happened yesterday?

Yeah, I heard it was quite untimous for some people.

Right? A lot of us were caught off guard by the timing.

Definitely! It's tough to adjust when things pop up unexpectedly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

This word originates from Middle English 'untimous', meaning untimely or inappropriate. The prefix 'un-' means not, and 'timous' (from Old French 'temo', meaning timely) refers to being timely or appropriate. Therefore, 'untimeous' describes something that is not timely or is inappropriate in timing.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being combined with 'timely' — this helps you remember that 'untimeous' means something that is not appropriate in timing.

Visually Confused Words