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/ˈərli/ Listen

Early

adjective

(compar. earlier; superl. earliest)

1.

At or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time. "An early warning" , "Early diagnosis" , "An early death" , "Took early retirement" , "An early spring" , "Early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties"

2.

Being or occurring at an early stage of development. "Early forms of life" , "Early man" , "An early computer"

3.

Belonging to the distant past. Synonyms: former, other. "Former generations" , "In other times"

4.

Very young.

5.

Of an early stage in the development of a language or literature. "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700"

6.

Expected in the near future.

adverb

1.

During an early stage. Synonym: early on.

2.

Before the usual time or the time expected. Synonyms: ahead of time, too soon. "The house was completed ahead of time"

3.

In good time. Synonym: betimes.

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WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University

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"Early" Quotes from Famous Books

... was a peculiar tenet which I made a point of supporting; for I maintained with Whiston, that it was unlawful for a priest of the church of England, after the death of his first wife, to take a second, or to express it in one word, I valued myself upon being a strict monogamist. I was early innitiated into this important dispute, on which so many laborious volumes have been written. I published some tracts upon the subject myself, which, as they never sold, I have the consolation of thinking are read only by the happy Few. Some of my friends called this ...

— The Vicar of Wakefield • Oliver Goldsmith

... feet from the door, stands an apple-tree. In the early spring I watched its swelling buds from day to day. Soon they burst forth into snowy blossoms, beautifying the tree, and filling the air with their fragrance. There was the promise of a bountiful crop of fruit. In a few days the petals had fallen ...

— Heart Talks • Charles Wesley Naylor

... illustration. The name multiflorus is established by long usage, and perhaps was originally given in contrast to the few-flowered habit of H. annuus, for the type of the species is more floriferous than the variety of which Asa Gray says that it is "known only in cultivation from early times, must have been derived from decapetalus," a statement which gardeners would hardly have accepted on less indisputable authority, as they will all think the habit and appearance of the two plants widely different. The variety multiflorus has ...

— Scientific American Supplement, No. 484, April 11, 1885 • Various

... judgment, in our past history as a nation, have interests and questions more important appealed to the people for their wise and careful consideration. It is due to the voters of the Fourth Congressional District that they have an early and full opportunity to examine their candidates in regard to these important problems, and I shall esteem it a great privilege if you ...

— A Unique Story of a Marvellous Career. Life of Hon. Phineas T. • Joel Benton

... I am sorry about this. My plan was different. It was to get over for a ride with you about now or sooner. This year Spring is early. The snow is off the flats this side the range and where the sun gets a chance to hit the earth strong all day it is green and has flowers too, a good many. You can see them bob and mix together in the wind. The quaking-asps down ...

— The Virginian - A Horseman Of The Plains • Owen Wister

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