first

See also: First

English

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English numbers (edit)
10
 ←  0 1 2  → 
    Cardinal: one
    Ordinal: first
    Adverbial: once
    Multiplier: single
    Distributive: singly

Pronunciation

(deprecated use of |lang= parameter)
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Particularly: “Scottish”

Etymology 1

From Middle English first, furst, ferst, fyrst, from Old English fyrst, fyrest (“first, foremost, principal, chief, original”), from Proto-Germanic *furistaz (“foremost, first”), superlative of Proto-Germanic *fur, *fura, *furi (“before”), from Proto-Indo-European *per-, *pero- (“forward, beyond, around”), equivalent to fore +‎ -est. Cognate with North Frisian foarste (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Swedish första (“first”), Norwegian Nynorsk fyrst (“first”), Icelandic fyrstur (“first”).

Alternative forms

Adjective

first (not comparable)

  1. Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.
    • Lua error in Module:quote at line 165: The first parameter (language code) is missing.
      Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.
    • Template:quote-magazine
    The first day of September 2013 was a Sunday.
    I was the first runner to reach the finish line, and won the race.
  2. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.
    • 1784: William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c., PREFACE
      THE favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Perſons of the firſt diſtinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ſeveral new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and diſtinguiſh it from others; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.
    Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
Alternative forms
  • 1st; (in names of monarchs and popes) I
Translations

Adverb

first (not comparable)

  1. Before anything else; firstly.
    Clean the sink first, before you even think of starting to cook.
    • Lua error in Module:quote at line 165: The first parameter (language code) is missing.
      That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls.
    • Template:quote-magazine
Translations

Noun

first (countable and uncountable, plural firsts)

  1. (uncountable) The person or thing in the first position.
    He was the first to complete the course.
  2. (uncountable) The first gear of an engine.
  3. (countable) Something that has never happened before; a new occurrence.
    This is a first. For once he has nothing to say.
  4. (countable, baseball) first base
    There was a close play at first.
  5. (countable, Britain, colloquial) A first-class honours degree.
  6. (countable, colloquial) A first-edition copy of some publication.
  7. A fraction of an integer ending in one.
    one forty-first of the estate
Translations
first gear — see first gear
baseball: first base — see first base

Derived terms

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Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first

Related terms

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Terms related to the adjective, adverb, or noun first

See also

Etymology 2

From Middle English first, furst, fyrst, from Old English fyrst, fierst, first (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic *frestaz, *fristiz, *frestą (“date, appointed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *pres-, *per- (“forward, forth, over, beyond”). Cognate with North Frisian ferst, frest (“period, time”), German Frist (“period, deadline, term”), Swedish frist (“deadline, respite, reprieve, time-limit”), Icelandic frestur (“period”). See also frist.

Noun

first (plural firsts)

  1. (obsolete) Time; time granted; respite.

References

  • first at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams


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