early

Everyday

1. Before the usual or expected time: «The bus came early». tree →
2. Near the beginning of a day, a period or an event: early morning, early in the year. tree →
3. Happening long ago or first: early humans, early cars. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: get up early, early to bed; arrive early for school; in safety, leave early so you don't rush across roads. In history: early people, early inventions. In maths and time problems: «earlier» means before; «5 minutes early» means 5 minutes before the set time. Phrases: early bird, early morning, early on, early night, the early bird catches the worm, earlier than, at the earliest.

Examples

• I got up early to watch the sunrise. tree →
• The train arrived ten minutes early. tree →
• We had an early night before the trip. tree →
• The early bird catches the worm. tree →
• Early people made tools from stone. tree →
• Spring flowers bloom early in the year. tree →
• Come earlier next time. tree →
• If school starts at 8:45 and you arrive at 8:30, you are 15 minutes early. tree →
• ‘Whither away so early, Little Red-Cap?’ tree →

Note

Comparisons: earlier, earliest (y → i). Opposite: late. Say «ER-lee». In maths: «early» means before the set time, so subtract: 9:00 − 10 minutes early = 8:50.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The rabbis note that righteous people such as Abraham rose early, and take it as a sign of eagerness to do God's commands. In the primary lessons: In everyday life: get up early, early to bed; arrive early for school; in safety, leave early so you don't rush across roads. In history: early people, early inventions. In maths and time problems: «earlier» means before; «5 minutes early» means 5 minutes before the set time. Phrases: early bird, early morning, early on, early night, the early bird catches the worm, earlier than, at the earliest.

Examples

• And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. (Torah GEN.19.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. (Torah GEN.31.55, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears; and the men were sore afraid. (Torah GEN.20.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• I rose early at dawn, and cried; I hoped in Thy word. (Writings PSA.119.147, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. (Prophets JOS.6.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. (Writings DAN.6.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparisons: earlier, earliest (y → i). Opposite: late. Say «ER-lee». In maths: «early» means before the set time, so subtract: 9:00 − 10 minutes early = 8:50.