early

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; "early morning"; "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"

being or occurring at an early stage of development; "in an early stage"; "early forms of life"; "early man"; "an early computer"

belonging to the distant past; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times"

during an early stage; "early on in her career"

before the usual time or the time expected; "she graduated early"; "the house was completed ahead of time"