Earlier

Earlier
Early Ear"ly, a. [Compar. {Earlier} ([~e]r"l[i^]*[~e]r); superl. {Earliest}.] [OE. earlich. [root]204. See {Early}, adv.] 1. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to {late}; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit. [1913 Webster]

Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about them. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]

2. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc. [1913 Webster]

Seen in life's early morning sky. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

The forms of its earlier manhood. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

The earliest poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer. --J. C. Shairp. [1913 Webster]

{Early English} (Philol.) See the Note under {English}.

{Early English architecture}, the first of the pointed or Gothic styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Syn: Forward; timely; not late; seasonable. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • earlier — adj. occurring at a prior time; as, on earlier occasions. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • earlier — index antecedent, back (in arrears), before mentioned, former, heretofore, last (preceding) …   Law dictionary

  • earlier — [[t]ɜ͟ː(r)liə(r)[/t]] ♦♦ 1) Earlier is the comparative of early. 2) ADV COMPAR: ADV with v, ADV with cl, oft amount ADV Earlier is used to refer to a point or period in time before the present or before the one you are talking about. As mentioned …   English dictionary

  • earlier — I adjective (comparative and superlative of early ) more early than; most early a fashion popular in earlier times his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher Verdi s earliest and most raucous opera • Syn: ↑earliest • Similar to: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • earlier — ear|li|er1 [ ɜrliər ] adverb *** used for referring to a time before the present or before the time you are talking about: A few days earlier, he had assured me that he didn t want to come. earlier ear|li|er 2 [ ɜrliər ] adjective ** happening… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • earlier — I UK [ˈɜː(r)lɪə(r)] / US [ˈɜrlɪər] adverb *** at a time before the present or before the time you are talking about A few days earlier, he had assured me that he didn t want to come. II UK [ˈɜː(r)lɪə(r)] / US [ˈɜrlɪər] adjective ** happening… …   English dictionary

  • earlier — [ˈɜːliə] adv 1) used for referring to a time before the present or before the time that you are talking about A few days earlier, he had been in London.[/ex] earlier adj 2) an earlier period in history[/ex] …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • earlier — 1. adjective occurring previously I shall be late because I missed the earlier train. 2. adverb previously; before now; sooner I shall be late because I didnt start earlier …   Wiktionary

  • earlier on — ► early (or earlier) on at an early (or earlier) stage. Main Entry: ↑early …   English terms dictionary

  • earlier on — adverb : previously, before I told you yes earlier on * * * earlier on Previously • • • Main Entry: ↑early …   Useful english dictionary

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