Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EAR'LY, a. [er'ly; From Sax. ær, er, before in time, Eng. ere, which indicates the root of the word to signify, to advance, to pass along or shoot up. It is probably connected with the D. eer, G. ehre, Sw. ähra, Dan. ære, honor, denoting the highest point.]

1. In advance of something else; prior in time; forward; as early fruit, that is, fruit that comes to maturity before other fruit; early growth; early manhood; early old age or decrepitude, that is, premature old age. So an early spring; an early harvest.
2. First; being at the beginning; as, early dawn.
3. Being in good season; as, the court met at an early hour.