early

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Antonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Adverb 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Antonyms 1.4.3 Derived terms 1.4.4 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English erli, Old English ǣrlīce, from ǣr (“‘before’”) + adverbial suffix -līce. Cognate with Old Norse árla ( > Danish and Norwegian årle)

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɜː(ɹ).li/, SAMPA: /"3:(r).li/

  Rhymes: -ɜː(r)li

• (GenAm) IPA: /ˈɝli/. SAMPA: /"3`li/

   Audio (US)^{help, file}

• Hyphenation: ear‧ly

[edit] Adjective

early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)

1. At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

   At eleven, we went for an early lunch.

   She began reading at an early age.

   His mother suffered an early death.

2. Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on-time.

   You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.

   The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.

3. Near the start or beginning.

   The play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of Shakespeare's early works.

[edit] Synonyms

• (at a time in advance of the usual): premature
• (near the start): first

[edit] Antonyms

• late

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adverb

early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)

1. At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

   We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.

[edit] Synonyms

• prematurely

[edit] Antonyms

• late, tardily

[edit] Derived terms

• early doors

[edit] Translations