Early definition |Dictionary.com

Early

12 dictionary results for: Early

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ear·ly

[ur-lee] Pronunciation Key adverb, -li·er, -li·est, adjective, -li·er, -li·est, noun, plural -lies.

–adverb

1.	in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.

2.	in the early part of the morning: to get up early.

3.	before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time: They came early and found their hosts still dressing.

4.	far back in time: The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.

–adjective

5.	occurring in the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: an early hour of the day.

6.	occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner.

7.	belonging to a period far back in time: early French architecture.

8.	occurring in the near future: I look forward to an early reply.

9.	(of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type: early apples.

–noun

10.	a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.

—Idiom

11.	early on, with but little time elapsed; early in the course of a process, project, etc.; early in the game.

[Origin: bef. 950; ME erlich (adj.), erliche (adv.), OE ǣrlīc, ǣrlīce, mutated var. of ārlīc, ārlīce, equiv. to ār- early (positive of ǣr ere) + līc(e) -ly

]

—Related forms

ear·li·ness, noun

—Synonyms 5. initial. 6. beforehand, premature.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Ear·ly

[ur-lee] Pronunciation Key

–noun

Ju·bal Anderson

[joo-buh

l] Pronunciation Key, 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ear·ly (ûr'lē) Pronunciation Key
adj. ear·li·er, ear·li·est

Of or occurring near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: in the early morning; scored two runs in the early innings.
1. Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time: the early inhabitants of the British Isles.
2. Of or belonging to an initial stage of development: an early form of life; an early computer.
Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time: an early spring; an early retirement.
Maturing or developing relatively soon: an early variety of tomato.
Occurring in the near future: Observers predicted an early end to the negotiations.

adv. ear·lier, ear·liest

1. Near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: departed early in the day; scored important victories early in the campaign.
2. At or near the beginning of the morning: She never used to get up so early.
At or during a remote or initial period: decided very early to go into medicine.
Before the expected or usual time: arrived at the meeting a few minutes early.
Soon in relation to others of its kind: a rose that was cultivated to bloom early.

[Middle English erli, from Old English ǣrlīce : ǣr, before; see ayer- in Indo-European roots + -līce, adv. suff.; see -ly².]

ear'li·ness n.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ear·ly (ûr'lē) Pronunciation Key
American Confederate general whose forces threatened Washington, D.C. (1864) but were ultimately defeated by Union troops led by Philip H. Sheridan (1865).

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
early

O.E. ærlice, from ær "soon, ere" (from P.Gmc. *airiz, from PIE *ayer- "day, morning") + -lice "-ly," adverbial suffix. The early bird of the proverb is from 1670s.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

early
adjective
1.	at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; "early morning"; "an early warning"; "early diagnosis"; "an early death"; "took early retirement"; "an early spring"; "early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties" [ant: middle, late]
2.	being or occurring at an early stage of development; "in an early stage"; "early forms of life"; "early man"; "an early computer" [ant: late]
3.	belonging to the distant past; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times"
4.	very young; "at an early age"
5.	of an early stage in the development of a language or literature; "the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C."; "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700" [ant: middle, late]
6.	expected in the near future; "look for an early end to the negotiations"
adverb
1.	during an early stage; "early on in her career" [syn: early on]
2.	before the usual time or the time expected; "she graduated early"; "the house was completed ahead of time" [ant: belatedly]
3.	in good time; "he awoke betimes that morning"

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

early

In addition to the idioms beginning with early, also see bright and early.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Early Branch, SC Zip code(s): 29916

Early County, GA (county, FIPS 99) Location: 31.33042 N, 84.90920 W
Population (1990): 11854 (4714 housing units)
Area: 1324.2 sq km (land), 13.0 sq km (water)

Early, IA (city, FIPS 23475) Location: 42.46087 N, 95.15252 W
Population (1990): 649 (298 housing units)
Area: 1.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 50535

Early, TX (city, FIPS 21904) Location: 31.74452 N, 98.94073 W
Population (1990): 2380 (992 housing units)
Area: 6.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 76801

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Early

Ear"ly\ ([~e]r"l[y^]), adv. [OE. erli, erliche, AS. [=ae]rl[=i]ce; [=ae]r sooner + l[=i]c like. See Ere, and Like.] Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes; as, come early.

Those that me early shall find me. --Prov. viii. 17.

You must wake and call me early. --Tennyson.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Early

Ear"ly\, a. [Compar. Earlier ([~e]r"l[i^]*[~e]r); superl. Earliest.] [OE. earlich. [root]204. See Early, adv.]

1. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to late; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit.

Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. --Burke.

The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about them. --Hawthorne.

2. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc.

Seen in life's early morning sky. --Keble.

The forms of its earlier manhood. --Longfellow.

The earliest poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer. --J. C. Shairp.

Early English (Philol.) See the Note under English.

Early English architecture, the first of the pointed or Gothic styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Syn: Forward; timely; not late; seasonable.

CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

EARLY