English Online Dictionary. What means early? What does early mean?
English
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ûr′lē, IPA(key): /ˈɜː.li/
- (General American) enPR: ûr′lē, IPA(key): /ˈɝ.li/
- Homophone: Earley
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)li
- Hyphenation: ear‧ly
Etymology 1
From Middle English erly, erlich, earlich, from Old English ǣrlīċ (“early”, adjective), equivalent to ere + -ly.
Adjective
early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)
- At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
- Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
- After but close to the start of a period of time.
- In the starting hours of the day.
- Having begun to occur; in its early stages.
- (astronomy) Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.
- Antonym: late
Synonyms
- (at a time in advance of the usual): premature
- (near but after the start): first
Antonyms
- (at a time in advance of the usual): late
- (illness: having begun to occur): terminal
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
early (plural earlies)
- (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
Antonyms
- late
Etymology 2
From Middle English erly, orely, arely, erliche, arliche, from Old English ǣrlīċe, ārlīċe (“early; early in the morning”, adverb), equivalent to ere + -ly. Cognate with Old Norse árliga, árla ( > Danish årle, Swedish arla, Norwegian årle, Faroese árla).
Adverb
early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)
- At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
- Soon; in good time; seasonably.
Synonyms
- prematurely
Antonyms
- late, tardily
Derived terms
- bright and early
- Christmas came early, Christmas comes early
Translations
Anagrams
- Arely, Arley, Layer, Leary, Raley, Rayle, layer, leary, re-lay, relay