An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. By this or that time; previously; prior to or at some specified or implied time.
   

2. Now; so soon; so early (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From M.E. al redy, literally “fully ready,” → all, + M.E. redy “ready,” from rædig, from O.E. ræde “prompt” + -ig “-y.”

Etymology (PE): Pišnun, literally “prior to now,” from piš-, → pre-, + Mid./Mod.Pers. nun “now, at present” (variants aknun, konun, ultimately from Proto-Ir.
*hak-nun); Av. nū- “now,” nūrəm “now;” O.Pers.
nūram “now;” cf. Skt. nú- “now, just, but,” nūnám “now, at present, indeed;” Gk. nun “now;” L. nu- “now” (in nu-dis “the day after tomorrow”); Goth. nu “now;” O.E. nu; E. now; PIE base *nu- “now.”