Definition
nounA procedural plan, usually but not necessarily tabular in nature, indicating a sequence of operations and the planned times at which those operations are to occur.
nounA serial record of items, systematically arranged.
Sentence Examples
You are a busy man, so I will adjust myself to your schedule.
You should carry out the plan on schedule.
I have a hectic schedule for the next few days.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English cedule, from Middle French cedule (whence French cédule), from Old French cedule, from Late Latin schedula (“papyrus strip”), diminutive of Latin scheda, from Ancient Greek σχέδη (skhédē, “papyrus leaf”), from Proto-Hellenic *skʰíďďō, from Proto-Indo-European *skid-yé-ti, from *skeyd- (“to divide, split”). Doublet of cedula and cedule.
This word was historically pronounced /ˈsɛdjuːl/, /ˈsɛdʒuːl/; the pronunciations with /ʃ/ and /sk/ are due to the spelling (the latter may have been reinforced by learned influence); compare schism.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Oh, I didn't mean a work…school schedule. I meant a fun schedule."
— 1953, Dalton Trumbo, Ian McLellan Hunter, John Dighton, Roman Holiday, spoken by Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck):
"Currently, cannabis/marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it defined as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” This is the same designation given to LSD, heroin and ecstasy."
— 2022 October 13, Shawn Radcliffe, “What Happens if Marijuana is No Longer Classified as Schedule 1 Drug?”, in healthline, archived from the original on 21 Apr 2023:
"He demands the blood-written schedule back from the demon, who refuses to give it up"
— 1900, John the Stylite, translated by Agnes Smith Lewis, Select Narratives of Holy Women (Studia Sinaitica; X), Logos edition, London; Cambridge University Press Warehouse: C. J. Clay and Sons, page xxix:
"Many harm reduction groups and drug policy experts question the long-term efficacy of scheduling xylazine."
— 2023 April 20, Jan Hoffman, “The Fight Over a Drug That Is Great for Horses but Horrific for Humans”, in The New York Times, →ISSN: