adj.
Pronunciation: ' ə r-l ē
Function: adverb
Inflected Form: ear · li · er ; -est
Etymology: Middle English erly, from Old English ǣ rl ī ce, from ǣ r early, soon ― more at ERE
Date: before 12th century
1 a : near the beginning of a period of time <awoke early in the morning> b : near the beginning of a course, process, or series < early in his senatorial career>
2 a : before the usual or expected time <the train arrived early > b archaic : SOON c : sooner than related forms <these apples bear early >