Dictionary

at first en · ADP

Pronunciation

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• (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Initially; at the start; originally.
   • The work was hard at first, but soon I got used to it.
   • “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 51:
   • This year of 1905 also saw the completion of the electrification of the Underground, which certainly improved the atmosphere, and made travelling easier and more comfortable, although, at first, not too reliable. 1957 July 14, M. D. Greville, “A Diamond Jubilee of Railway Memories”, in Railway Magazine, page 459:
   • If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
   • KIRA: Look, Dukat, I know you're angry, but maybe you ought to think about what you're proposing. I mean, you can't go to war against the whole Klingon Empire with one bird of prey. DUKAT: Why not? Your people fought against us for fifty years with much less sophisticated weaponry than this. And you beat us. KIRA: It's not the same. The Bajoran people were united. We were all fighting for the same goal. You and your crew would be out there alone. DUKAT: Maybe at first, but perhaps our actions would inspire others to join the struggle! 1996, “Return to Grace”, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, season 4, episode 14 (Science Fiction), →OCLC:
   • At first I was afraid, I was petrified / Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side 1978, Dino Fekaris, Freddie Perren, “I Will Survive”, performed by Gloria Gaynor:

Forms

Translations (73)

lo ທີ່ຕົ້ນ (initially; at the start) · ta முதலில் (initially; at the start) · mnc ᡩᠠᡩᡝ (initially; at the start) · be спярша́ (initially; at the start) · es en un principio (initially; at the start) · hy նախ (initially; at the start) · cy ar y cychwyn (initially; at the start) · ba элек (initially; at the start) · he תְּחִלָּה (initially; at the start) · pt a princípio (initially; at the start) · de anfänglich (initially; at the start) · es al inicio (initially; at the start) · fr au début (initially; at the start) · it dapprima (initially; at the start) · gl ao primeiro (initially; at the start) · th ตอนแรก (initially; at the start) · pl z początku (initially; at the start) · la primitus (initially; at the start) · ru снача́ла (initially; at the start) · la primum (initially; at the start) · ba борон (initially; at the start) · vi mới đầu (initially; at the start) · mnc ᠵᠣᡴᠰᠣᠨ (initially; at the start) · ang æt forman (initially; at the start) · fi ensin (initially; at the start) · sv till en början (initially; at the start) · de zuerst (initially; at the start) · ja 始めは (initially; at the start) · gd sa chiad dol a-mach (initially; at the start) · ko 처음에는 (initially; at the start) · ba алда (initially; at the start) · ru сперва́ (initially; at the start) · eo komence (initially; at the start) · fi ensi alkuun (initially; at the start) · de zunächst (initially; at the start) · fi ensiksi (initially; at the start) · gd an toiseach (initially; at the start) · uk споча́тку (initially; at the start) · hu eleinte (initially; at the start) · kk әуел баста (initially; at the start) · sah бастаан (initially; at the start) · hu először (initially; at the start) · it all'inizio (initially; at the start) · sv först (initially; at the start) · cy ar yr olwg gyntaf (initially; at the start) · it sulle prime (initially; at the start) · cy ar y cyntaf (initially; at the start) · mnc ᡨᡠᡴᡨᠠᠨ (initially; at the start) · ru пре́жде (initially; at the start) · cs nejprve (initially; at the start) · ug دەسلەپتە (initially; at the start) · cs zpočátku (initially; at the start) · ba башта (initially; at the start) · uk спе́ршу (initially; at the start) · fr d'abord (initially; at the start) · ga ar dtús (initially; at the start) · es al principio (initially; at the start) · ga i dtosach (initially; at the start) · sga i tosuch (initially; at the start) · ru понача́лу (initially; at the start) · hu kezdetben (initially; at the start) · be спача́тку (initially; at the start) · uk напе́ршу (initially; at the start) · de anfangs (initially; at the start) · nl aanvankelijk (initially; at the start) · eo unue (initially; at the start) · ba тәүҙә (initially; at the start) · cmn 起初 (initially; at the start) · he בְּרֵאשִׁית (initially; at the start) · hy սկզբում (initially; at the start) · ba алдан (initially; at the start) · sa प्रथमम् (initially; at the start) · pl na początku (initially; at the start)