早い

Etymology
From. First attested in the  of 712. Reconstructed as ultimately from.

Adjective

 * 1)  early
 * 2)  quick-witted
 * 3)   quick, fast, speedy
 * 1)  quick-witted
 * 2)   quick, fast, speedy
 * 1)   quick, fast, speedy
 * 1)   quick, fast, speedy

Usage notes
In modern usage, authors often use the spelling for the early sense and the  spelling for fast. These are ultimately the same word, identical in speech, with the sense clear from context.