The word timeous comes from the Latin tempus, meaning "time," and is used primarily in British English to describe something that happens at the right or appropriate time. It suggests promptness, timeliness, or acting in a timely manner, especially in a way that is helpful or well-suited to the situation at hand. In this sense, timeous can refer to actions, decisions, or events that are completed or occur when needed, neither too early nor too late.

Though timeous is not as commonly used in everyday language today, it can still be found in formal or literary contexts, where it conveys a sense of being well-timed or appropriately timed for optimal effectiveness.