I. ˈərlē, ˈə̄l-, ˈəil- adverb
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English erly, from Old English ǣrlīce, from ǣr early, soon + -līce -ly — more at ere
1.
a. : near the beginning of a period of time
this great and salutary reaction began early in the present century — H.T.Buckle
awoke early in the morning
b. : near the beginning of a course, process, or series
is too early to guess the outcome
early in his senatorial career
c. : in a distant past time
were men of education and business experience and their stamp on the village gave it a degree of culture that early eliminated many frontier crudities — American Guide Series: Minnesota
early discovered the use of fire
2.
a. : before the expected or usual time
retired from business quite early for a lawyer
the train arrived early
b. archaic : in the near future : soon
that from these may grow a hundredfold, who, having learnt thy way, early may fly the Babylonian woe — John Milton
c. : at a time sooner than related forms
these apples bear early and heavy
II. adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English erly, from erly, adverb
1. : of, relating to, or occurring near the beginning of a period of time
in the early Renaissance
the early morning
b. : of, relating to, or occurring near the beginning of a development, movement, or series
work on the thymus gland is still in an exceedingly early experimental stage — Morris Fishbein
the early days of the West
c.
(1) : distant in past time
the early character of the state
(2) : primitive
early art forms
early tools found in recent excavations
2.
a. : occurring before the expected or usual time
taking an early walk before breakfast — W.F.De Morgan
planned an early dinner before the concert
an early death
b. : occurring in the near future
other commitments making it impossible for him to schedule an early production of the play — Current Biography
hope for an early improvement in international relations
c. : maturing or producing sooner than related forms
early flowers and vegetables — Geoffrey Boumphrey
an early sweet corn
III. noun
( -es )
: one that arrives, produces, or is ready early ; especially : a plant that matures its economic part (as flowers or fruit) more rapidly than the average