adj. 25B6; adjective
early copies of the book : ADVANCE, forward; initial, preliminary, first; pilot, trial.
an early death : UNTIMELY, premature, unseasonable, before time.
early man : PRIMITIVE, ancient, prehistoric, primeval; poetic/literary of yore.
an early official statement : PROMPT, timely, quick, speedy, rapid, fast.
late, modern, overdue.
25B6; adverb
Rachel has to get up early : IN THE EARLY MORNING; at dawn, at daybreak, at cockcrow, with the lark.
they hoped to leave school early : BEFORE THE USUAL TIME; prematurely, too soon, ahead of time, ahead of schedule.
late.