adj.
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: ear · li · er ; -est
Date: 13th century
1 a : of, relating to, or occurring near the beginning of a period of time, a development, or a series <in the early evening> <the early symptoms of the disease> b (1) : distant in past time (2) : PRIMITIVE < early tools>
2 a : occurring before the usual or expected time <an early arrival> b : occurring in the near future <at your earliest convenience> c : maturing or producing sooner than related forms <an early peach>
– ear · li · ness noun