形容詞 early:

1. at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
2. being or occurring at an early stage of development
3. belonging to the distant past
   同義詞：former, other
4. very young
5. of an early stage in the development of a language or literature
6. expected in the near future

副詞 early:

1. during an early stage
   同義詞：early on
2. before the usual time or the time expected
   同義詞：ahead of time, too soon
3. in good time
   同義詞：betimes

1. Many conservatives in the early 1900's thought impressionistic art was decadent.
   20世紀(jì)初，許多保守主義者認(rèn)為印象派的藝術(shù)是頹廢的。
2. I'm not sure if our book will be a success it's early days yet.
   我們這本書(shū)是否受歡迎，我沒(méi)有把握－－現(xiàn)在言之過(guò)早。
3. We shall find out the truth early or late.
   我們遲早會(huì)查明事實(shí)真相。
4. It's too early for getting up.
   現(xiàn)在起床還太早。

ear.ly

adj.（形容詞）
ear.li.er,ear.li.est
Of or occurring near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events:
早先的，早的：發(fā)生在一個(gè)系列、一段時(shí)間或事件過(guò)程之中的靠近初始階段的：
例句：
in the early morning; scored two runs in the early innings.
清晨；在前幾個(gè)回合中就得了兩分

Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time:
初期的，早期的：屬于時(shí)間的早期或初期的部分：
例句：
the early inhabitants of the British Isles.
不列顛島上的早期居民

Of or belonging to an initial stage of development:
初級(jí)階段：處于發(fā)展階段的早期部分：
例句：
an early form of life; an early computer.
早期的生活方式；早期的電腦

Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time:
提早的，早來(lái)的：比原定時(shí)間或平常習(xí)慣時(shí)間早些發(fā)生、出現(xiàn)或發(fā)展：
例句：
an early spring; an early retirement.
早到的春天；提前退休

Maturing or developing relatively soon:
早熟的：相對(duì)來(lái)說(shuō)較快地發(fā)育成熟：
例句：
an early variety of tomato.
早熟的西紅柿品種

Occurring in the near future:
很快的：在近日就發(fā)生的：
例句：
Observers predicted an early end to the negotiations.
觀(guān)察家預(yù)言談判不久將結(jié)束

adv.（副詞）
ear.lier,ear.liest
Near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events:
早期地：發(fā)生在一系列事件、一段時(shí)間或事件過(guò)程中初始或靠近初始的階段：
例句：
departed early in the day; scored important victories early in the campaign.
大清早離開(kāi)；戰(zhàn)役初期就獲得重大勝利

At or during a remote or initial period:
初期地，古代地：屬于時(shí)間的早期或初期階段：
例句：
decided very early to go into medicine.
很早就決定從事醫(yī)務(wù)工作

Before the expected or usual time:
提早地，早來(lái)地：比原定時(shí)間或平常時(shí)間早地：
例句：
arrived at the meeting a few minutes early.
提早幾分鐘到達(dá)會(huì)場(chǎng)

Soon in relation to others of its kind:
早熟地，較快地：比同類(lèi)品種相對(duì)早地：
例句：
a rose that was cultivated to bloom early.
經(jīng)過(guò)培育而早開(kāi)的玫瑰

來(lái)源：
Middle English erli
中古英語(yǔ) erli
from Old English ôrloce
源自 古英語(yǔ) ôrloce
ôr [before] * see ayer-
ôr [在…之前] *參見(jiàn) ayer-
-loce [adv. suff.] * see -ly 2
-loce [后綴，表.副詞.] *參見(jiàn) -ly2

【引伸】
ear.liness
n.（名詞）