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earliness

 - 3 dictionary results

ear⋅ly

  [ur-lee] adverb, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, adjective, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, noun, plural -lies.
Use earliness 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To earliness
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.
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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Word Origin & History

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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