Where does “earlier” come from?
earlier (English) comes from English early, from Middle English erly, from Old English ǣrlīċe.
earlier (English): comparative form of early: more early; occurring...
Definitions
- comparative form of early: more early; occurring...
Ancestry of “earlier”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | early | At a time in advance of the usual or expected... |
| 2 | Middle English | erly | early |
| 3 | Old English | ǣrlīċe | — |