adj. (ear・li・er; -li・est)

1 (時刻・季節など)早い (deep); 早起き[早寝]の (late) (⇒fast^１ 【日英比較】, SYN).

・early morning 早朝.

・an early riser 早起きの人.

・an early spring 早春.

・an early visit 早朝の訪問.

・at an early hour 朝早く.

・at the (very) earliest (どんなに)早くとも.

・⇒keep early HOURs.

・early habits 早寝早起きの習慣.

・The early bird catches the worm. 《諺》 早起きは三文の徳 (cf. early bird).

2 普通以上に早い, 早めの; まだ若い; 初めごろの, 始まりの.

・the early part of the year その年の初めごろ.