Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes; as, come early.

In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to late; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit.

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"

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

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

of an early stage in the development of a language or literature; "the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C."; "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700"

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

SCHOOLS: The teachings of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni traditionally formed the basis for eighteen early schools (in reality there were more) differentiated in terms of locality, ritual practice, Vinaya (rules for monastic discipline) and particularly their philosophical understanding of Buddhism. They developed from around 3rd century BCE onwards. The THERAVADIN tradition derives from one of these, although in its present form it is a much later development. Other early schools (esp. Sarvastivada, Dharmaguptaka, Mahasanghika) were important in the development of other schools of Buddhism.