▪ I. early, a. and n.
(ˈɜːlɪ)
Forms: 3 earlich, 4–5 erli, erly, 6 yerly, 7 earely, 6– early.
[See the adv. Not found in OE., and only rarely in ME.; probably evolved from the adv. Cf. the equivalent ON. árligr, which is also of rare occurrence.]
A. adj.
I. Absolutely or relatively near to the beginning of a portion of time: opposed to late.
When used with a n. denoting a division of time, it sometimes gives to the latter a partitive sense: thus the early spring = the early part of the spring; the early morning = the early part of the morning; similarly the early nineteenth century, etc.
1. With reference to the time of day. a. Belonging to the first part of the morning; that exists, takes place, appears, or does something in the first part of the morning. Proverb, The early bird gets the worm; hence early bird, humorously = early riser.
In early riser, early rising, the first word may either be taken as an adj., or the phrase may be treated as a combination in which the first element is the adv. (cf. well-doer, -doing). The former view seems most in accordance with the modern grammatical consciousness, and is supported by the analogy of the similar phrase in quot. 1225.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 258 His earlich ariste from deað to liue. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ix. xxii. (1495) 360 Mane the erly dawnynge makyth ende of the nyght lytyll and lytyll. c 1450 Sir Beues (MS. M.) 1929 Beuys sayde: ‘Yet is it but erly day!’ 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iii. 209 The early Village Cock Hath twice done salutation to the Morne. 1611 Bible Hosea vi. 4 Your goodnesse is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. c 1645 Howell Lett. II. xiv, He that hath once got the fame of an early riser, may sleep till noon. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 642 Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest Birds. 1785 Cowper Tiroc. 765 Where early rest makes early rising sure. 1808 J. Barlow Columb. i. 356 Whose watchful priest would meet, with matin blaze, His earlier God. 1833 R. Hogg Let. in Lockhart Scott (1839) IX. 111 He asked me if I was an early riser. 1866 Arab. Nts. 487 It was time to get up for early prayers before sunrise. |
b. Relatively near to the beginning of the day (or night). Of events or actions: Taking place at an hour relatively not far advanced, or before the usual hour.
small-and-early: applied in the 19th c. to evening parties;
colloq. also as
quasi-n.| 1848–60 Bartlett Dict. Amer., The meeting will begin at early candle-light. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. xi. 83 Mrs. Podsnap added a small and early evening to the dinner. |
c. to keep early hours: to rise and retire early.
early habits: habits of keeping early hours. Hence
colloq. the
adj. is applied to persons.
| 1754 Richardson Grandison V. xvii. 114 Early hours..and ease, without hurry, will do every thing. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 429 What early philosophic hours he keeps. Mod. They are early people, and seldom go out in the evening. |
† d. absol. = Early morning, early hour.
Obs.| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xviii. 26 Fro erli vnto euen the tyme shal ben chaunged. 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 7 To morrow with your earliest, Let me haue speech with you. |
2. Relatively near to the beginning of the year. Of things or events: Appearing or occurring relatively soon in the year;
esp. of plants with regard to their time of bearing flowers or fruit.
| 1526 Tindale James v. 7 Untill he receave the yerly and the latter rayne. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. iii. 38 In an early Spring, We see th' appearing buds, which to proue fruite, Hope giues not so much warrant. 1632 Milton L'Allegro 89 If the earlier season lead. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 192 Fruits and Flowers, are more early or tardy..according as the Soil and Situation are qualify'd by Nature or Accident. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 67 Ev'n in this early Dawning of the Year. 1811 W. Spencer Poems 98 Sere, sere was ev'ry earlier rose. 1861 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. V. 204 Early Purple Orchis. |
3. With reference to a lifetime.
a. Pertaining to or connected with childhood or youth.
b. Relatively near to the beginning of a lifetime or career. (Sometimes contextually
= premature, too early.)
| 1630 Lord Banians 62 They marry about the seventh year..that the parents might before death see their children disposed, which commeth to pass by these earely conjunctions. 1705 Addison Italy (Ded.), I had a very early Ambition to recommend my self to Your Lordship's Patronage. 1742 Young Nt. Th. v. 899 Early, not sudden, was Narcissa's fate. 1771 Junius Lett. xlix. 256 The duke..was in life your earliest friend. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 354 Our most important are our earliest years. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 109 Henry Wharton,..whose early death was soon after deplored by men of all parties. 1875 Emerson Lett. & Soc. Aims., Poet & Imag. Wks. (Bohn) III. 158 Music and rhyme are among the earliest pleasures of the child. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 36 The man who is to be good at anything must have early training. |
¶ Used by Byron for: Youthful, young.
| 1814 Byron Lara i. xx, Blest are the early hearts and gentle hands That mingle therein well-according bands. 1818 ― Juan i. xliii, Lucretius' irreligion is too strong For early stomachs. |
4. a. Belonging or relating to the initial stage of a historical epoch, of the history of a people, of the world, of a science, etc.; ancient. So
early history,
early records.
| 1672–5 T. Comber Comp. Temple (1702) 558 There are no More, or earlyer Laws than these. 1747 Collins Passions 2 While yet in early Greece she sung. 1787 Bonnycastle Astron. i. 3 Astronomy is a science of the earliest antiquity. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. I. 106 Anaxagoras seems to have been one of the earliest philosophers..who held this doctrine. 1821 Craig Lect. Drawing vii. 373 The early engravers..never attempted to express more than the drawing and the actual light and shadows. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 593 After the fashion of an earlier generation. Ibid. II. 399 Early fathers of the Church. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. (1874) I. viii. 90 Wherever we find the level..square occurring..in early Northern work. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 1, In the early Church he exercised a real influence. 1875 Fortnum Maiolica 92 Two large and finely painted early dishes. |
b. Archit. Early English: the name commonly applied to the period of English architecture succeeding the so-called ‘Norman’, and usually described as extending from a.d. 1175 to 1275; also the style characteristic of that period; also called
Early Pointed,
First Pointed.
| 1807 G. Millers Descr. Cathedral Ch. Ely 17 Sketch of the Characteristics of English Church Architecture. 1. Age.—Saxon..2. Age.—Norman..3. Age.—Early English; from 1200 to 1300, comprehending the reigns of John, Hen. III. and Edw. I. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. I. 106 The Early English capital is, therefore, a barbarism of triple grossness. 1879 Sir G. Scott Lect. Archit. I. 123 The round moulded capital is characteristic of the English Early Pointed. Ibid. 138 The Early Pointed style was from 1175 to 1275. |
5. a. generally. Connected with the initial part of any division of time, any continuous action, etc.; also, anterior in comparison with something else; timely, done or taking place without delay, or before it is too late. In compar. and
superl. = former, foremost (in time).
| 1767 Gooch Wounds I. 191 This consideration shou'd engage our earliest and closest attention to the rules. 1791 Burke App. Whigs Wks. VI. 9 Made men remiss in early precaution. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc ix. 303 Fear not for Burgundy!.. Our earliest scouts Shall tell his homeward march. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles vi. iii, Bruce's earliest cares restore That speechless page to Arran's shore. 1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xxi. 153 The early part of this century. |
b. Of future dates and events: Not remote, near at hand.
| 1857 Livingstone Trav. Introd. 8 There being no prospect of an early peace. Mod. An early date has been fixed for the ceremony. Please reply at your earliest convenience. |
II. 6. With reference to serial order: Occupying a position near the beginning.
| 1707 Lond. Gaz. No. 4333/8 They will Advance Money upon early Tallies. Mod. The early chapters of the book. The early prime numbers. |
III. 7. a. Special collocations: as,
early American a., belonging to or characteristic of the colonial and post-Revolutionary period in America;
early-closer, one whose place of business is closed one afternoon in the week;
early closing,
orig. designating a movement for the reduction of the daily hours of labour in wholesale and retail trades; now, the system by which business premises are closed for the day at the end of the morning on a particular day of the week; also, the closing of public houses earlier at night; also
attrib. or adj.;
early days, early in time for something (to happen, etc.);
early leaver, a pupil who leaves school without completing the full course of study; hence
early leaving;
early Victorian a., belonging to or characteristic of the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, its literature, fashions, etc.; also as
n.; so
early Victorianness;
early wood, the less dense part of the annual ring of a tree.
| 1895 Critic 9 Nov. 310/2 (title) Early American paintings at the Metropolitan Museum. 1915 W. A. Dyer (title) Early American craftsmen. 1922 Country Life Sept. 45/1 Furniture from the workshop of Duncan Phyfe holds distinctly a place of its own in the history of early American utilitarian art. 1926 Ladies' Home Jrnl. Sept. 98/4 There was first of all a charm created by the primitive simplicity of the antique Early American furniture as seen against nut-brown panelings of old pine. 1937 E. St. V. Millay Conversation at Midnight ii. 47 They fill the place so full of Early American furniture that there isn't a comfortable chair in the house. 1945 O. Nash Many Long Years Ago (1954) 96 He was too Early-American to write for advice from Emily Post. |
| 1863 Sat. Rev. 17 Jan. 78/1 The public would look with a more favourable eye upon the early closers if [etc.]. 1906 Daily Chron. 28 July 7/6 Thus giving early-closers and Saturday-afternooners a chance. |
| 1845 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. 25 Aug. 123/1 Those who are striving for the early closing of shops. 1846 Punch 11 Apr. 165/1 (heading) The Early Closing Movement. 1849 Hogg's Weekly Instructor III. 24/2 The Metropolitan Early Closing Society. 1851 Househ. Words 1 Nov. 126/2 That early-closing movement which has fastened the portals of all those magnificent palaces of linen-drapery. 1881 Ibid. 12 Nov. 53/2 That Saturday ‘early closing’..must be a vast boon to shop-people. 1888 Boy's Own Paper Christmas Number 34/1 Wednesday was our early-closing day. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXII. 685/2 Scottish Early Closing of Public-houses Act. |
| 1534 T. More Wks. (1557) 1156/1 She telleth hym then that it is but earely dayes, & he shal com time inough. 1739–40 Richardson Pamela (1740) I. xiv. 26 'Tis early Days with Pamela; and she does not yet think of a Husband. 1828 J. Constable Let. 25 Apr. (1962) 244 No impediments have yet arisen, and it is early days. 1935 G. Heyer Death in Stocks xi. 145 It's early days yet. 1957 Times 23 Dec. 11/2 As regards the current year, it is early days to express any considered opinion, but trading conditions are bad. |
| 1951 Times Educ. Suppl. 12 Jan. 21/1 That there is a substantial number of early leavers is not to be disputed. Ibid. 21/2 To tolerate early leaving is to destroy the structure and purpose of the grammar school. |
| 1878 C. L. Eastlake Hints Household Taste (ed. 4) vi. 161 Fifty years hence most of our early ‘Victorian’ upholstery will have fallen into useless lumber. 1883 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Nov. 89/2 The late Georgian or early Victorian age. 1896 Lady's Realm Dec. 129/1, I was a youth—in the mahogany age—early Victorian, you know. |
| 1895 F. Harrison (title) Studies in early Victorian literature. 1906 Fortn. Rev. Nov. 880 We invite the humour of the gods if we look down on the early Victorians. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 31 Oct. 15/3 The bonnets..were positively early-Victorian in size, and quite early-Victorian in the dainty pale silk frillings which framed most becomingly the face and the hair. 1959 N. & Q. CCIV. 123/1 Mr. G. M. Young's excellent two-volume survey of Early Victorian England began in 1830. |
| 1914 Wodehouse Man Upstairs 181 It was the gruesome Early Victorianness of it all that took the heart out of him. |
| 1914 S. J. Record Mech. Prop. Wood ii. 44 The inner portion [of the annual ring] was formed early in the season, when growth was comparatively rapid and is known as early wood. 1931 G. A. Garratt Mech. Prop. Wood ii. 115 That [wood] originally nearest the pith, which was formed in the spring of the year and is consequently known as springwood or early wood, is generally more open textured and of lighter colour than the outer portion of the ring. 1967 F. D. Silvester Timber iv. 26 The discoloration tends to be uneven as if a stain..has bled into the early wood portion of the growth rings. |
b. In collocations used
attrib.;
spec. early-warning, used of equipment, bases, etc., designed for the early detection of aerial, etc., attacks; also
fig.| 1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Africa 65 The pottery has a very early-man look about it. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 9 Jan. 2/1 The shock of that early-dawn disaster. 1906 Daily Chron. 2 June 9/1 The abolition of early-season events for two-year-olds. 1909 Westm. Gaz. 23 Apr. 8/2 Much of the early-morning work is performed entirely alone. 1916 R. Frost Let. 8 Aug. (1964) 41 Regarded as an attack of early-marriage nerves, it seems even a little funny. 1946 A. Lee German Air Force iv. 44 With no early warning system to help them operate fighters economically.., the Polish Air Force could not be expected to survive. 1949 E. Coxhead Wind in West iii. 61 The first recipient of her early-morning tea. 1956 Ann. Reg. 1955 135 President Eisenhower's ‘early warning’ plan..for a mutual exchange of military blueprints and aerial reconnaissance by Russia and America. 1958 Listener 17 July 78/1 The early warning missile station is about to be constructed. 1961 Flight LXXX. 654/1 The same hardware and techniques used to launch an orbiting scientific capsule can also be used to orbit an early-warning satellite. 1970 Daily Tel. 28 Apr. 2/3 An early warning system to alert doctors of the latest drug, Mandrax, being misused has been called for. |
B. n. a. An early fruit or vegetable. Chiefly
pl.| 1846 Times 13 Feb., Regents..kidneys, earlies, Scotch reds. 1883 R. Fremlin Potato 4 Second Earlies and Late Sorts. 1900 Daily News 10 Sept. 2/3 Hops... A few samples of earlies were offered at market to-day. 1925 Daily Mail 25 Apr. (Advt.), Chrysanthemums. A nice collection of well rooted outdoor earlies. 1961 J. Seymour Fat of Land iv. 53 In March we start potato planting. We plant a few earlies and later a lot of main crop. |
b. pl. Early years or days.
| 1927 ‘A. Horn’ (title) The Ivory Coast in the earlies. 1928 Sunday Express 24 June 8/5 So much for the old show days in the earlies. 1936 Times Lit. Suppl. 22 Feb. 167/2 A sheep-droving expedition on the scale of the one described here was more common in the ‘earlies’ of Australia than now. |
Add:
[A.] [I.] [1.] [b.] early night: a night on which a person goes to bed early; an instance of retiring early.
| 1968 ‘J. le Carré’ Small Town in Germany viii. 131, I would have been quite glad of an early night. 1987 A. T. Ellis Clothes in Wardrobe 120 Margaret is..suffering from pre-wedding nerves. She should have an early night. |
[III.] [7.] [a.] early music, medieval, renaissance, and baroque music,
esp. as revived and played on instruments of the period or replicas of them.
| 1949 *Early music [see underlay v. 1 e]. 1968 Music & Musicians June 46/3 David Munrow, the young director of the Early Music Consort, is a remarkable musician... His group..had its London debut at the Wigmore Hall on March 17. 1986 Cambridge (Mass.) Chron. 6 Mar. 8/2 Music conservatories which have early music departments devoted entirely to early music. 1991 Times Educ. Suppl. 4 Jan. 39/2 Some years ago early music minstrels Michael and Alison Bagenal travelled around the country encouraging primary schools to recreate medieval music in the classroom. |
So
early musician, a student or performer of early music.
| 1978 H. M. Brown in J. M. Thomson Future of Early Mus. in Brit. 7 *Early musicians today need to refine and develop their sense of the differences..between medieval, renaissance and baroque music. |
early retirement, retirement from one's occupation before the statutory retirement age,
esp. on advantageous financial terms.
| 1957 Life 18 Feb. 57/1 If it works, *early retirement can produce the blissful by-product shown on the next page. 1964 Business Week 16 May 110/3 Early retirement gets frequent mention these days as a possible means of creating jobs for the nation's unemployed. 1989 D. Leavitt Equal Affections 30 The dean asked him every few weeks if he was thinking about early retirement. |
▸
Sport (
orig. Baseball) (
euphem.).
to take an early shower (also
to give a person an early shower and similar phrases), (to require to) make a premature departure from the field of play;
esp. to be withdrawn or dismissed from play before the end of a match; also simply in
early shower and in extended use.
Cf. early bath at Additions.
| 1928 N.Y. Times 19 May 9/1 Benton went the full distance, but the Giants turned loose a terrific attack against Alex in the first and third drove the veteran to an *early shower bath. 1929 N.Y. Times 21 June 19/1 The Phils bunched three singles for a run in their first inning, then in the second they forged ahead in an outburst which promised Hubbell an early shower. 1977 Washington Post (Nexis) 17 Mar. b4 Meloche made the necessary saves before his teammates sent Bernie Wolfe to an early shower. 1989 Viz Dec.–Jan. 32 With Cardinal Basil Hume taking an early shower, Fulchester restart the match without a goalkeeper. 2002 Las Vegas Rev.-Jrnl. (Nexis) 6 Oct. 4 d, Republicans might want to order an early shower for U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson, who trails Democrat Mark Pryor in the polls, and replace him. |
▸ Chiefly
Brit. Sport (
euphem.).
to take an early bath (also
to send for an early bath and similar phrases), (to be required) to make a premature departure from the field of play;
spec. (in
Association Football and
Rugby Football) to be withdrawn or dismissed from play before the end of a match,
esp. having been sent off; also simply in
early bath and in extended use.
Cf. early shower at Additions.
| 1948 N.Y. Times 26 Aug. 24/6 A four-run second inning, in which nine men batted and drove Denny Galehouse to an *early bath, sent the Indians off their war path. 1969 B. Bremner You get Nowt for being Second vi. 66, I carried on the verbal feuding..and in the end I was given my marching orders and sent for an early bath. 1981 S. Studd Herbert Chapman, Football Emperor (BNC) 88 The forty-five-year-old's rotund physique proved too much and he was forced to retire for an early bath. 1991 Esquire (BNC) Apr. 146 [Jim Morrison's] songs are riddled with references to drugs and sex; and—making the film a dead cert—he obligingly took an early bath in Paris in '71. 1999 Daily Nation (Nairobi) 9 Dec. 49/5 Defender Van Wonderen crudely hauled down the onrushing Florian Maurice to qualify for an early bath. 2000 Personal Computer World Nov. 290/1 This geek-speak soon manifested itself in my eyes as an early bath for COM ports 3 and 4, which simply vanished from the device list. |
▸
early adopter n. (
orig. Econ. and
Sociol.) a person or group that starts using a new product or technology soon after it becomes available, often influencing others to follow suit;
spec. (chiefly
Marketing) a type of consumer comprising the second of five categories, gauged in terms of their readiness to adopt an innovation (see
quot. 1958); also in extended use.
| 1951 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 65 (Back matter), Many leading colleges and universities are adopting this book for class use. Among the *early adopters are: Boston University, [etc.]. 1958E. M. Rogers in Rural Sociol. 23 345 A method is suggested by which the adopters of agricultural practices may be classified into the five adopter categories of innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. 1994 Science 3 Dec. 15/1 Houghton thinks that the ‘into tech’ group is by far the most important—the kind of people who were first to buy CDs, personal computers, cellular phones and other high-tech innovations, who are in love with technology for its own sake. ‘Your early adopters are your agents of change’, he says. 2001 N.Y. Mag. 16 July 102/1 If you weren't part of the early adopters who saw the Village production of Maya the Bee, then now's your chance. |
▸
early bird n. orig. U.S. attrib. designating a product (
esp. a meal) or service offered at a discount before the usual or peak hours of purchase or use; (also) designating a discount so offered;
cf. the early bird gets the worm at A. 1a.
| 1917 Washington Post 12 Aug. 2/2 The following train schedule will be in effect: *Early bird special, 9.15 a.m.; joy special, 10 a.m. 1976 J. Lukasiewicz Railway Game 275 An ‘early bird dinner’ was advertised for those who wanted to eat between four and six P.M. 1994 P. Hobbs & M. Algar Free to Travel i. 3 Early bird discounts may motivate you to book well in advance of your vacation. |
▸
early bloomer n. (a) a person who develops or excels at an unusually young age;
cf. bloomer n.1,
late bloomer n. (b) at
late adj.1 and
n.3 Additions;
(b) a plant which flowers relatively early, typically in early-to-mid spring.
| 1870 B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp 157 Inheriting her mother's physical peculiarities, and in obedience to the climatic laws of the Red Mountain region, she was an *early bloomer. 1872 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 3 18 A very desirable addition to the garden, being quite ornamental in foliage and flower, and an early bloomer. 1991 N.Y. Times 21 Nov. b23/1 Rick Macci [is] helpmate to early-bloomers like Tommy Ho and Capriati. |
▪ II. early, adv. (
ˈɜːlɪ)
Forms: 1
Northumb. árl{iacu}ce,
ǽrl{iacu}ce, 2–4
erliche, 3
earliche, 4
erlike,
erli,
erely,
eerly,
arliche,
orly,
Sc. airlie, 3–4
arli, 4–5
erly, 5
ȝerlyche,
yerely,
north. 4–5
areli,
-ly, 4–6
Sc. ar-,
ayr-,
airly, 5
Sc. yarly, 6
yerle, 6–7
earely, 6–
early.
[OE. árl{iacu}ce (= ON. árliga) f. *ár (= ON. ár) positive deg. of ǽr ere + -l{iacu}ce -ly2. The ME. forms with o descend directly from this; the OE. var. ǽrl{iacu}ce (with umlaut or assimilation to ǽr) gave rise to arli, erli (whence the mod form).] I. Near the beginning of a period of time.
1. With reference to the time of day.
a. In the first part of the morning.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John viii. 2 And ærlice [c 975 Rushw. arlice] æftersona cuom in temple. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Erliche rise, and gernliche seche chireche. a 1225 Ancr. R. 20 Siggeð..prime iþe winter erliche. a 1300 Cursor M. 2817 Bot arli [1340 Fairf. erly], ar men well moght see, Þe angls badd loth do him flee. c 1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 203 The child..ros arliche amorewen. 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 32 He suld fynd a palmere orly at morn. 1375 Barbour Bruce v. 554 For to riss airly euirilk day. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 460 He wakide eerly to his puple. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 785 In Asterre day ȝerlyche in þe mornyng. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. i. 65 Rycht airly in til þe dawing. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. viii. 23 At morrow full ayrly Eneas haistis vp, and mycht nocht ly. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge (1848) 165 This Judith..rose up yerle. 1535 Coverdale Ps. cxviii[xix]. 147 Early in y⊇ mornynge do I crie vnto the. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 188 What misaduenture is so earely vp? a 1665 J. Goodwin Filled w. Spirit (1867) 113 Early up and never the nearer. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 49 ¶2 Young Fellows..who rise early for no other purpose but to publish their Laziness. 1832 Tennyson May Queen, Call me early, mother dear. 1884 J. Hawthorne in Harper's Mag. Feb. 433/2 You must get up early to get the better of a man who has been a parson. |
b. Relatively near to the beginning of the day (or night); at an hour not far advanced.
| 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, xxii. §4 Laborers..late commyng unto their werke, erly departing therefro. 1832 G. Downes Lett. Cont. Countries I. 458 We resumed our journey early. 1801 Southey Thalaba iv. xviii, Earlier the night came on. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. cvii, A bitter day that early sank Behind a purple-frosty bank Of vapour. |
c. early and late: at all hours, continuously, incessantly.
| c 1330 Assump. Virg. (BM. MS.) 302 Erliche & late to gladen þee. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 392 What lyf ȝe lede, erly & late. c 1440 York Myst. xxii. 124 Be subgette to þi souereyne Arely and late. 1590 Pasquil's Apol. i. C iij b, His conuersation among them..was..all manner of seasons, earely, and late. [1621 Quarles Esther (1717) 28 Prayr..finds admittance, whether earl' or late.] 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xx, I was up early and late. |
2. Relatively near to the beginning of the year.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §421 An Early-Comming Fruit. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 191 Early-set Anemonies. 1795 Burke Th. on Scarcity Wks. VII. 406 All the early sown grain recovered itself. Mod. Some of the species flower very early. |
3. With reference to a lifetime.
a. In childhood or youth.
b. At a time relatively near to the beginning of a lifetime or career. (Sometimes contextually
= too early, prematurely.)
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 116 Hire fader hefde iset hire earliche to lare. c 1340 Cursor M. (Edinb. MS.) 23046 Þat..arlik to god þaim tok. 1612–15 Bp. Hall Contempl. O.T. xii. iv, Samuel began his acquaintance with God early. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 265 Early begin the stubborn Child to break. 1767 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. II. xii. 200 She lost her father early. 1815 Scribbleomania 252 Where the seeds of virtue are early planted. 1835 Willis Pencillings I. xiv. 105 The early-learnt history of the family. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 107 Voltaire perceived very early in life that to be needy was to be dependent. |
4. At or near the beginning of a historical epoch, of the history of the nation, the world, a science, etc.; far back in date, anciently.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 9001 (Fairfax MS.), Allas arly [v.r. arli, erly] þis gile be-gan. Þat adam þat was formast man..was begiled þorou a wife. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. ii. 7 The Romans themselves were early in no small numbers. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 312 The Americans early found out its useful qualities. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 317 As early as the reign of Elizabeth. |
5. a. generally. In the initial part of any division of time, any continuous action, etc. Also, at a time anterior with respect to something else; in good time, without delay, before it is too late.
| 1655 Milton Sonn. ‘Avenge, O Lord’ 14 That from these may grow A hundredfold, who..Early may fly the Babylonian woe. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 545 Early they stall their Flocks and Herds. 1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome Alex. i. 457 This Abuse was early redrest. 1807 T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 71 He very early saw that the fidelity of the western country was not to be shaken. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. vii. 456 This great and salutary reaction began early in the present century. 1863 H. Cox Instit. i. vi. 41 A Parliament..may..be convened earlier for dispatch of business. 1872 Raymond Mines 200 Early in December the weather becomes too cold and stormy. |
b. early on [
f. earlier on after later on], at an early stage.
| 1928 D. L. Sayers Bellona Club xv. 170 ‘It might have been given him earlier.’.. ‘Well—not too early on, Peter. Suppose he had died a lot too soon.’ 1942 A. L. Rowse Cornish Childhood iv. 82, I was a very ‘forward’ child: very early on throwing my bottle out over the cradle. 1953 D. D. C. P. Mould Ireland of Saints viii. 103 The difficulties surrounding the relation between philosophy and the Christian revelation and faith had been studied from early on in the Church's history. 1958 Spectator 1 Aug. 175/3 Two of the principal characters..are involved early on in a session of the Law. |
II. 6. Referring to serial order. Near the beginning of the series.
| Mod. His name appears very early in the list. |