tempestive

Tempestive is an English adjective meaning timely or seasonable; occurring at an opportune moment. In general usage, it describes actions, warnings, or events that come at a suitable or advantageous time. The term is relatively rare in contemporary speech and is more often found in literary, historical, or formal texts. It should not be confused with tempestuous, which refers to storms or tumult.

Etymology traces tempestive to Latin tempestivus, meaning seasonable or timely, itself related to tempus, meaning time. The word entered English via older forms in the Middle English or Early Modern period and has since become largely archaic or specialized in modern usage.

Usage and context: In modern dictionaries, tempestive is typically labeled archaic or rare. When used, it often appears in formal or scholarly writing to denote something that arrives at just the right moment. Common synonyms include timely, opportune, seasonable, and well-timed; antonyms include untimely and inopportune. Example: The warning proved tempestive, allowing residents to seek shelter before the storm. As a result, tempestive is more likely to be found in historical narratives, legal texts, or stylistic prose than in everyday conversation.