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already

Pronunciation: /ɔːlˈɹɛdi/

The English word “already” has 5 meanings listed here.

adverb

  1. Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
  2. So soon.
  3. An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.
  4. Indicates the completion of an action (whether past or hypothetical), or more generally, perfective aspect.
  5. Marks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect.

Etymology

From Middle English alredy (“fully; already”), equivalent to al- (“all, completely”) + ready. Cognate with West Frisian alreeds (“already”), Dutch alreeds (“already”), Afrikaans alreeds (“already”), Middle Low German alreide, alreids ("already"; whence modern German Low German alreeds (“already”)), Danish allerede (“already”), Swedish allaredan (“already”), Norwegian Nynorsk allereie (“already”).…

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