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Earliest   /ˈərliəst/   Listen
Earliest

adjective
1.
(comparative and superlative of 'early') more early than; most early.  Synonym: earlier.  "His earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher" , "Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera"
adverb
1.
With the least delay.  Synonym: soonest.



Early

adjective
(compar. earlier; superl. earliest)
1.
At or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time.  "An early warning" , "Early diagnosis" , "An early death" , "Took early retirement" , "An early spring" , "Early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties"  Antonyms: late, middle.
2.
Being or occurring at an early stage of development.  "Early forms of life" , "Early man" , "An early computer"  Antonym: late.
3.
Belonging to the distant past.  Synonyms: former, other.  "Former generations" , "In other times"
4.
Very young.
5.
Of an early stage in the development of a language or literature.  "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700"  Antonyms: late, middle.
6.
Expected in the near future.



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WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University








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"Earliest" Quotes from Famous Books



... of his life at the courts of princes, and often employed his talents in panegyric and festal odes, receiving his reward from the munificence of those whose exploits he celebrated. This employment was not derogatory, but closely resembles that of the earliest bards, such as Demodocus, described by Homer, or of Homer ...
— Bulfinch's Mythology • Thomas Bulfinch

... insisted on, because it is, in reality, the only very amiable one which they possess. It must be confessed, indeed, that the gentleness and docility of the children are such as to occasion their parents little trouble, and to render severity towards them quite unnecessary. Even from their earliest infancy they possess that quiet disposition, gentleness of demeanour, and uncommon evenness of temper, for which, in more mature age, they are for the most part distinguished. Disobedience is scarcely ever known; a word or ...
— Three Voyages for the Discovery of a Northwest Passage from the • Sir William Edward Parry

... up to the best appointed regiments of England, and to carry off victory from the pride of Europe, in fair field-fights. Alas! alas! it is true of nations as well as of men, in their simplest and earliest forms of association, that there are "secrets in all families;" and it will no more do to dwell on our own, than it would edify us to ...
— Jack Tier or The Florida Reef • James Fenimore Cooper

... flag in spirits or relax in exertion, it is but necessary to strike up a song of the kind to put them all in fresh spirits and activity. The Canadian waters are vocal with these little French chansons, that have been echoed from mouth to mouth and transmitted from father to son, from the earliest days of the colony; and it has a pleasing effect, in a still golden summer evening, to see a batteau gliding across the bosom of a lake and dipping its oars to the cadence of these quaint old ditties, or sweeping along in full chorus on a bright sunny morning, down the transparent ...
— Astoria - Or, Anecdotes Of An Enterprise Beyond The Rocky Mountains • Washington Irving

... but he preferred me Above the maidens of my age and rank,— Still shunned their company, and still sought mine. I was not won by gifts, yet still he gave; And all his gifts, though small, yet spoke his love. He picked the earliest strawberries in woods, The clustered filberds, and the purple grapes; He taught a prating stare to speak my name; And, when he found a nest of nightingales, Or callow linnets, he would show them me, And ...
— The Works Of John Dryden, Volume 4 (of 18) - Almanzor And Almahide, Marriage-a-la-Mode, The Assignation • John Dryden


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