I.of or belonging to the right time, done or happening at the proper time, timely, seasonable, opportune, fitting, appropriate, suitable (class.; syn. opportunus).
I. In gen.: “venti,” Cic. N. D. 2, 53, 131: “imbres,” Just. 44, 1, 4: “nondum tempestivo ad navigandum mari, Siciliam adiit,” Cic. Imp. Pomp. 12, 34: “aggressus tempestivis temporibus,” Liv. 45, 19, 10; cf.: “veniet narratibus hora Tempestiva meis,” Ov. M. 5, 500; Plin. 11, 17, 17, § 53: “et tempestivum pueris concedere ludum,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 142: “oratio,” Liv. 5, 12, 12: “caesura arborum,” Plin. 16, 43, 84, § 230: “vindemia,” Col. 11, 2, 67: “sarritio,” id. 11, 2, 9; 7, 3, 4: “multa mihi ipsi ad mortem tempestiva fuerunt,” fitting occasions, Cic. Tusc. 1, 45, 109: “num parum tempestivos interveni?” Tac. Or. 14: “oscula maestis tempestiva genis posuit,” Stat. Th. 2, 355.—Neutr. absol.: “si tempestivom erit,” Col. 1, 8 fin.; Plin. 16, 39, 74, § 188.—
II. In partic.
A. Timely, seasonable, ripe (syn. maturus): “maturitas,” Cic. Sen. 2, 5: “ubi ocymum tempestivom erit, dato primum,” Cato, R. R. 54, 3; so, “fructus,” Cic. Off. 2, 4, 14; Col. 3, 21, 10: “pullorum examina,” Lucr. 5, 1363: “pinus,” Verg. G. 1, 256.—Comp.: “cassita in sementes forte concesserat tempestiviores,” Gell. 2, 29, 5. —
2. Transf., of persons, ripe, mature (poet. and in postAug. prose): “tempestiva viro,” Hor. C. 1, 23, 12 (for which: “filia Jam matura viro,” Verg. A. 7, 53; and: “matura virgo,” Hor. C. 3, 6, 22); so, “Rhode,” id. ib. 3, 19, 27: “virgo, Fest. s. v. Romam, p. 269 Müll.: tempestivos erat caelo Cythereïus heros,” Ov. M. 14, 584. —
B. Pregn., like our timely, betimes, for that which takes place early, in good time, in good season, early; so in the elder Pliny, of early risers: “refrigeratum sub dio dari tempestivis antecedente vomitione,” Plin. 29, 4, 25, § 80: “sani atque tempestivi,” id. 7, 53, 54, § 181.—Esp., of early banquets, beginning while it is yet day: “convivia,” Cic. Arch. 6, 13; so, “convivia (convivium),” id. Sen. 14, 46; id. Att. 9, 1, 3; 9, 13, 6; id. Mur. 6, 13: “gladiatorum convivium,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 25, § 61: “solemni et tempestivo adhibetur convivio,” Curt. 8, 1, 22; Sen. Ira, 2, 28, 6; Tac. H. 2, 68; Suet. Calig. 45 fin.; cf.: tempestivis epulis delinitus, ubi vino incaluit, etc., Tac. A. 11, 37.—Sup. seems not to occur.—Hence, adv.: tempestīvē , at the right time, in proper season, seasonably, opportunely; fitly, appropriately (class.): “arare,” Cato, R. R. 61, 1; Cic. N. D. 2, 62, 156; Col. 2, 8, 4; Ov. Tr. 4, 10, 81; Just. 34, 1; Suet. Vesp. 23. — Comp., Hor. C. 4, 1, 9.— Sup seems not to occur.