Used to say that something has happened before now or earlier than expected. It can show surprise that something is finished or has begun so soon.
Formed in Middle English from *all* + *ready*, originally meaning “fully prepared.” The meaning shifted from “completely ready” to “by this time” or “before now.”
“Already” started out as “all ready,” like everything is fully prepared. Over time, it stopped talking about readiness and started talking about time—“it’s all happened by now.” It’s a great example of how ideas about being prepared slide into ideas about being early.
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