any liliaceous plant of the genus Trillium having a whorl of three leaves at the top of the stem with a single three-petaled flower
common American spring-flowering woodland herb having sheathing leaves and an upright club-shaped spadix with overarching green and purple spathe producing scarlet berries
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
during an early stage
before the usual time or the time expected
