early

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That he's doing this kind of thing this early is an admission that he can't handle the job of working with a Democrat-controlled Congress.

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Definitions (31)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (12)

  1. adjective Of or occurring near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: in the early morning; scored two runs in the early innings.
  2. adjective Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time: the early inhabitants of the British Isles.
  3. adjective Of or belonging to an initial stage of development: an early form of life; an early computer.
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Examples (50)

  • Emser published it in German early in 1527, adding some vituperations and falsehoods of his own. —  Life of Luther
  • I have long felt that what propelled Obama early was the fact that many Americans understand in their guts that we need a change, but the change we need is to focus on nation-building at home. —  Libertarian Leanings
  • That he's doing this kind of thing this early is an admission that he can't handle the job of working with a Democrat-controlled Congress. —  Latest Articles
  • I have long felt that what propelled Mr Obama early was the fact that many Americans understand in their guts that we need a change, but the change we need is to focus on nation-building at home. —  TODAYonline
  • Coincidentally, that's what I called my early-20's sex life. —  [redacted]
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Related

Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

late ·  new ·  wonderful

Used in the same contextWord Family

early:   earliest ·  earlier
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English erli, from Old English ǣrlīce : ǣr, before; see ayer- in Indo-European roots + -līce, adv. suff.; see -ly2.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Early modern English also erly, erley; from Middle English erly, erli, ereli, northern arly, arely, ayrly, etc., from Anglo-Saxon *ǣrlice, Old Northumbrian ārlice, early (rare, the common form being ǣr, English ere) (= Icelandic ārliga, also contr. ārla, adverb, = Danish aarle, adjective and adverb), from ǣr, ere, early, + -līce, English -ly: see ere.
  2. from Middle English *erlich, earlich, found only once as adjective, and prob. due to the adverb: see early, adv.
 

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/ˈərli/
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