1. (

• earlier ,
• earliest

) (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early; "a fashion popular in earlier times"; "his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher"; "Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera" ;

1. (

• soonest ,
• earliest

) with the least delay; "the soonest I can arrive is 3 P.M." ;