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

  1. comparative form of early: more early; occurring...

Ancestry of “earlier”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishearlyAt a time in advance of the usual or expected...
2Middle Englisherlyearly
3Old Englishǣrlīċe—

Words derived from “earlier”

Every word from Old English ǣrlīċe →Every word from Middle English erly →Every word from English early →
earlier — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer