[ear.ly] adv ear.li.er ; -est [ME erly, fr. OE aerlice, fr. aer early, soon--more at ere] (bef. 12c) 1 a: near the beginning of a period of time "awoke ~ in the morning" b: near the beginning of a course, process, or series "~ in his senatorial career"
2. a: before the usual or expected time b archaic: soon c: sooner than related forms "these apples bear ~"
[2]early adj ear.li.er ; -est (13c) 1 a: of, relating to, or occurring near the beginning of a period of time, a development, or a series b (1): distant in past time (2): primitive
2. a: occurring before the usual or expected time b: occurring in the near future "at your earliest convenience" c: maturing or producing sooner than related forms "an ~ peach" -- ear.li.ness n