at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; early morning; an early warning; early diagnosis; an early death; took early retirement; an early spring; early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties'
being or occurring at an early stage of development; in an early stage; early forms of life; early man; an early computer'
of an early stage in the development of a language or literature; the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C.; Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700'
early (adj.)
during an early stage; early on in her career
[ Syn: early on , early on , early on , early on , early on , early on , early on , early on ]
before the usual time or the time expected; she graduated early; the house was completed ahead of time
[ Syn: ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , too soon , too soon , too soon , too soon , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , too soon , too soon , too soon , too soon , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , too soon , too soon , too soon , too soon , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , ahead of time , too soon , too soon , too soon , too soon ]
in good time; he awoke betimes that morning
[ Syn: betimes , betimes , betimes , betimes , betimes , betimes , betimes , betimes ]