Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AL-READ'Y, adv. [alred'dy; all and ready. See Ready.]

Literally, a state of complete preparation; but, by an easy deflection, the sense is, at this time, or at a specified time. Elias is come already. – Matth. xvii. Joseph was in Egypt already. – Exod. i. It has reference to past time, but may be used for a future past; as, when you shall arrive the business will be already completed, or will have been completed already.