English - 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”), Icelandic _fyrstur_ (“first”).
ALTERNATIVE FORMS
* firste (archaic)
* fyrst (obsolete)
* fyrste (obsolete)
ADJECTIVE
FIRST (_not comparable_)
* Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.
_The FIRST day of September 2013 was a Sunday. I was the FIRST runner to reach the finish line, and won the race._
* 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_)
* Before anything else; firstly.
_Clean the sink FIRST, before you even think of starting to cook._
TRANSLATIONS
NOUN
FIRST (_countable and uncountable_, _plural_ FIRSTS)
* (uncountable) The person or thing in the first position.
_He was the FIRST to complete the course._
* 1699, William Temple, _Heads designed for an essay on conversations_
Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the FIRST apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
* (uncountable) The first gear of an engine.
* (countable) Something that has never happened before; a new occurrence.
_This is a FIRST. For once he has nothing to say._
* (countable, baseball) first base
_There was a close play at FIRST._
* (countable, UK, colloquial) A first-class honours degree.
* (countable, colloquial) A first-edition copy of some publication.
* A fraction of an integer ending in one.
_one forty-FIRST of the estate_
TRANSLATIONS
DERIVED TERMS
SEE ALSO
* primary
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”), Icelandic fyrstur (“first”).
first (not comparable)
-
Preceding all others of a
series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.
-
The first day of September 2013 was a Sunday. I was the first runner to reach the finish line, and won the race.
-
Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.
-
Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
first (not comparable)
-
Before anything else; firstly.
-
Clean the sink first, before you even think of starting to cook.
first (countable and uncountable, plural firsts)
-
(uncountable) The person or thing in the first position.
-
He was the first to complete the course.
-
(uncountable) The first gear of an engine.
-
(countable) Something that has never happened before; a new
occurrence.
-
This is a first. For once he has nothing to say.
-
(countable, baseball) first base
-
There was a close play at first.
-
(countable, UK, colloquial) A first-class honours degree.
-
(countable, colloquial) A first-edition copy of some publication.
-
A fraction of an integer ending in one.
-
one forty-first of the estate
English - Etymology 2
From Middle English _first_, _furst_, _fyrst_, from Old English _fyrst_, _fierst_, _first_ (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic _*fristaz_, _*fristą_ (“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)
* (obsolete) Time; time granted; respite.
From Middle English first, furst, fyrst, from Old English fyrst, fierst, first (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic *fristaz, *fristą (“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.
first (plural firsts)
-
(obsolete) Time; time granted; respite.