— earliness , n.
/err"lee/ , adv., earlier, earliest , adj., earlier, earliest , n. , pl. earlies .
adv.
1. in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.
2. in the early part of the morning: to get up early.
3. before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time: They came early and found their hosts still dressing.
4. far back in time: The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.
5. early on , with but little time elapsed; early in the course of a process, project, etc.; early in the game.
adj.
6. occurring in the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: an early hour of the day.
7. occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner.
8. belonging to a period far back in time: early French architecture.
9. occurring in the near future: I look forward to an early reply.
10. (of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type: early apples.
n.
11. a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.
[ bef. 950; ME erlich (adj.), erliche (adv.), OE aerlic, aerlice, mutated var. of arlic, arlice, equiv. to ar- early (positive of aer ERE) + lic ( e ) -LY ]
Syn. 6. initial. 7. beforehand, premature.