adv. [ OE. sone, AS. sōna; cf. OFries. sōn, OS. sāna, sāno, OHG. sār, Goth. suns. ] 1. In a short time; shortly after any time specified or supposed; as, soon after sunrise. “Sooner said than done.” Old Proverb. “As soon as it might be.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore
Soon learned. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without the usual delay; before any time supposed; early. [ 1913 Webster ]

How is it that ye are come so soon to-day? Ex. ii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Promptly; quickly; easily. [ 1913 Webster ]

Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Readily; willingly; -- in this sense used with would, or some other word expressing will. [ 1913 Webster ]

I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

As soon as, or
So soon as, immediately at or after another event. “As soon as he came nigh unto the camp . . . he saw the calf, and the dancing.” Ex. xxxii. 19. See So . . . as, under So. --
Soon at, as soon as; or, as soon as the time referred to arrives. [ Obs. ] “I shall be sent for soon at night.” Shak. --
Sooner or later, at some uncertain time in the future; as, he will discover his mistake sooner or later. --
With the soonest, as soon as any; among the earliest; too soon. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Speedy; quick. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Sunnite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. In the western United States, one who settles on government land before it is legally open to settlement in order to gain the prior claim that the law gives to the first settler when the land is opened to settlement; hence, any one who does a thing prematurely or anticipates another in acting in order to gain an unfair advantage. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. Oklahoma; -- a nickname. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. Soon. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]