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Early - 8 dictionary results

ear⋅ly

  [ur-lee] adverb, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, adjective, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, noun, plural -lies.
Use Early in a Sentence
–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.

Ear⋅ly

  [ur-lee]
–noun
Ju⋅bal Anderson  [joo-buhl] , 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Early
ear·ly   (ûr'lē)   
adj.   ear·li·er, ear·li·est
  1. 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.
  3. Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time: an early spring; an early retirement.
  4. Maturing or developing relatively soon: an early variety of tomato.
  5. 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.
  2. At or during a remote or initial period: decided very early to go into medicine.
  3. Before the expected or usual time: arrived at the meeting a few minutes early.
  4. 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.
Ear·ly   (ûr'lē)   
American Confederate general whose forces threatened Washington, D.C. (1864) but were ultimately defeated by Union troops led by Philip H. Sheridan (1865).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Early
Spanish: en los inicios, al principio; pronto; temprano,
German: früh,
Japanese: 早期に
More Translations »

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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