■ adjective ( earlier , earliest )
1》 before the usual or expected time.
2》 of, at, or near the beginning of a particular time, period, or sequence.
↘(of a plant or crop) flowering or ripening before other varieties.
■ adverb
1》 before the usual or expected time.
2》 at or near the beginning of a time, period, etc.
■ noun ( earlies )
1》 potatoes ready to be harvested before the main crop.
2》 informal ~ shifts.
Phrases
at the earliest not before the time or date specified.
~ bird humorous a person who rises or arrives ~.
~ (or earlier ) on at an ~ (or earlier) stage.
Derivatives
earliness noun
Origin
OE (as adverb) rlīce (see ere , -ly 2 ), influenced by ON árliga .