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Earlier vs Hitherto - What's the difference?

earlier | hitherto |

As adverbs the difference between earlier and hitherto

is that earlier is (early) while hitherto is (formal|or|legal) up to this or that time .

As an adjective earlier

is (early).

earlier

English

Adjective

(head)
  • (early)
  • occurring previously
  • I shall be late because I missed the earlier train.

    Adverb

    (head)
  • (early)
  • previously; before now; sooner
  • I shall be late because I didn't start earlier .

    hitherto

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (formal, or, legal) Up to this or that time.
  • * 1830 , Anna Maria Porter, The Barony (volume 3, page 460)
  • The exhaustless conjecturings of that evening's full conversation, made such of the small party, as had hitherto been strangers, well acquainted with each other's turn of mind