Part 3565

<hw>Ear"ly</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Earlier</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Earliest</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>earlich</ets>. <?/<?/<?/<?/. See <er>Early</er>, <tt>adv.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to <ant>late</ant>; <as>as, the <ex>early</ex> bird; an <ex>early</ex> spring; <ex>early</ex> fruit.</as></def>

<blockquote><b>Early</b> and provident fear is the mother of safety. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The doorsteps and threshold with the <b>early</b> grass springing up about them. <i>Hawthorne.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc.</def>

<blockquote>Seen in life's <b>early</b> morning sky. <i>Keble.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The forms of its <b>earlier</b> manhood. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The <b>earliest</b> poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer. <i>J. C. Shairp.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Early English</col> <fld>(Philol.)</fld> <cd>See the Note under <er>English</er>.</cd> -- <col>Early English architecture</col>, <cd>the first of the pointed or Gothic styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and 13th centuries.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Forward; timely; not late; seasonable.</syn>

<h1>Earmark</h1> <Xpage=465>

<hw>Ear"mark`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.</def>

<blockquote>Money is said to have no <b>earmark</b>. <i>Wharton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his <b>earmark</b>. <i>Robynson (More's Utopia).</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A set of intellectual ideas . . . have <b>earmarks</b> upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor. <i>Burrow.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Earmark</h1> <Xpage=465>

<hw>Ear"mark`</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Earmarked</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Earmarking</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.</def>

<h1>Earn</h1> <Xpage=465>

<hw>Earn</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>See <er>Ern</er>, <tt>n.</tt></def>

<i>Sir W. Scott.</i>

<h1>Earn</h1> <Xpage=465>

<hw>Earn</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Earned</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Earning</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[AS. <ets>earnian</ets>; akin to OHG. <ets>arn<?/n</ets> to reap, <ets>aran</ets> harvest, G. <ets>ernte</ets>, Goth. <ets>asans</ets> harvest, <ets>asneis</ets> hireling, AS. <ets>esne</ets>; cf. Icel. <ets>\'94nn</ets> working season, work.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not).</def>

<blockquote>The high repute Which he through hazard huge must <b>earn</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; <as>as, to <ex>earn</ex> a good living; to <ex>earn</ex> honors or laurels.</as></def>

<blockquote>I <b>earn</b> that I eat. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The bread I have <b>earned</b> by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>