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1.
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
2.
being or occurring at an early stage of development
in an early stage
early forms of life
early man
an early computer
3.
belonging to the distant past
the early inhabitants of Europe
4.
very young
at an early age
5.
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
6.
expected in the near future
look for an early end to the negotiations
'early' - used as a adverb
7.
during an early stage
early on in her career
8.
before the usual time or the time expected
she graduated early
9.
in good time
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derived forms
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1. Early / Comparitive
earlier
2. Early / Superlative
earliest
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