as ˈsoon, aˈssoon, advb. phr.
Forms: 3–4 als son(e, 4–5 also sone, alsone, 5 asoune, 5–7 assoone. The two words as soon were commonly written as one from 15th to 18th c., both with, and without, following as; cf. Fr. aussitôt(que. See other instances under Alsoon.
| ? 1475 Plumpton Corr. 30 Asoune as they may be gotten. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. 13 Assone as they myght. 1581 Sidney Def. Poesie (1622) 510 Assoone as hee might see those beasts well painted. 1760 T. Hutchinson Hist. Col. Mass. Bay i. (1765) 58 Assoon as they knew the terms. |
Beside the obvious sense (see as A 3–5, and soon), assoon had also the meaning: As soon as might be, immediately, forthwith. (Fr. aussitôt.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 339 He..said wit[h] word, and als son [later als sone, also soone] All his comament was don. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4102 Þus sal ende þe dignité of Rome; And als sone aftir sal anticrist come. c 1420 Sir Amadace lvii. (1842) 50 Alsone his lord he metes. 1585 James I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 23 He stays assone, and in his mynde doeth cast, What way to take. |