antecedent vs early

antecedent

adj
  • Earlier, either in time or in order. 

  • Presumptive. 

noun
  • The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent. 

  • An ancestor. 

  • Previous principles, conduct, history, etc. 

  • Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing. 

  • A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun. 

  • The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true. 

  • The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p→q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent. 

early

adj
  • Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time. 

  • Near the start or beginning. 

  • Near the start of the day. 

  • Having begun to occur; in its early stages. 

  • At a time in advance of the usual or expected event. 

  • Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun. 

noun
  • A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day. 

adv
  • At a time before expected; sooner than usual. 

  • Soon; in good time; seasonably. 

How often have the words antecedent and early occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )