The term 'EARLY ASCETIC' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: ESSENE (6 letters) and ASCETIC (7 letters). The Essenes were an ancient Jewish sect that lived in the Middle East during the 2nd century BCE. They were known for their ASCETIC lifestyle, which included a focus on communal living, vegetarianism, and celibacy. They also had a strong belief in the power of prayer and meditation. The ASCETIC lifestyle of the Essenes was adopted by many early Christian monastic orders, and is still practiced today by some religious groups.