earlier

Variant of early

early definition

early (ʉr′lē)

adverb, adjective earlier -·lier, earliest -·li·est

  1. near the beginning of a given period of time or of a series, as of events; soon after the start
  2. before the expected or customary time
  3. in the far distant past; in ancient or remote times
  4. in the near future; before much time has passed

Etymology: ME erli < OE ærlic, adv. (> ærlic, adj.) < ær, before (see ere) + -lice, adv. suffix (see -ly, like)

Related Forms:

early Idioms

early on

at an early stage; near the beginning

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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