anytime English · revision 7005

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1740}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈenitaɪm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[any]] and [[time]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ At whatever time: as one word by 1854 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) MWU dates it to 1740.^(MWU 2024) The two-word form is Middle English (early 15th century), and ''any while'', in the same sense, late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ COED treats it as a variant of ''any time''.^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – any time, as two words.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1740 – first use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1854 – as one word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # At any time whatever.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # At a point in time that is not fixed.^(Collins 2023)^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[any]]

+ * [[time]]

+ * [[anyway]]

+ * [[anywhere]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}