Dictionary

first en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [fəɹst] (Canada)
• /fɜːst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fə(r)sʈ/ non-rhotic, also
• /føːst/ (New-Zealand)
• /fʌrst/ (Scotland)
• [fɚːst] (Canada)
• fŭrst (General-American)
• /fɜ(r)sʈ/
• /fɔːst/ (Northumbria)
• /fɪrst/ (Scotland)
• /fɪrst/ (Early, Modern, rare)
• /fɚst/ (General-American)
• /fʊrst/ (Early, Modern)
• /fʊːɹs/ Local Dublin
• /feːst/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /føːst/ (Wales)
• /fɛːst/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English first, furst, ferst, fyrst, from Old English fyrest, from Proto-West Germanic *furist, from Proto-Germanic *furistaz (“first, foremost”), superlative of Proto-Germanic *furai, *furi (“before”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”), from *per- (“before; first”), equivalent to fore + -est. Cognates Cognate with Scots first (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), vorst (“prince”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Limburgish Vürsch (“prince”), Luxembourgish viischt (“anterior; forward”), Vilamovian fiyśt, fjəšt, fjyśt, fjyšt (“prince”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål først (“first”), Faroese and Icelandic fyrstur (“first”), Norwegian Nynorsk fyrst, først (“first”), Swedish först (“first”); also Latin prīnceps (“first, foremost; chief”), Greek παρ’ (par’), παρά (pará, “despite; less”), Mycenaean Greek 𐀞𐀫 (pa-ro, “from”), Albanian parë (“first; chief, main”), Latgalian pyrmais (“first”), Latvian pirmais (“first; foremost”), Lithuanian pirmas (“first; primary”), Bulgarian пъ́рви (pắrvi), пръ́в (prắv, “first”), Czech and Slovak prvý (“first”), Macedonian прв (prv), први (prvi, “first”), Polish piersy, pierwszy, pirszy (“first”), Russian пе́рвый (pérvyj, “first”), Serbo-Croatian пр̑вӣ, pȓvī (“first”), Slovene prvi (“first”), Armenian հարավ (harav, “south”), Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬎𐬎𐬀 (paᵘruua, “before, first”), Tocharian A pärwat (“first”), Tocharian B parwe (“first”), Sanskrit पूर्व (pūrva, “before”).

Meanings

1. (no-comparative) Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.
   • Hancock was first to arrive.
   • Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on the first and second ranks; the black pieces and pawns on the eighth and seventh ranks. 2022, “2023 Laws of Chess”, in FIDE, page 21:
   • 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. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
   • The first day of September 2013 was a Sunday.
   • The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. The first barrels of crude fetched $18 (around $450 at today’s prices). 2013 August 3, “Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847, archived from the original on 19 Aug 2022:
   • I was the first runner to reach the finish line, and won the race.
2. (no-comparative) Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.
   • Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
   • the first violinist
   • It rose to be the first of pastoral regions, and continued until after the gold discovery to be the land of squatterdom. 1880, S. W. Silver, Handbook for Australia & New Zealand, Co, page 146:
   • 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.
   • The French openings decided that satin gowns, suits, wraps and even hats were to be in first fashion this autumn. 1916 September 11, Anne Rittenhouse, “Dress: One-piece Frocks of Satin in Neutral Colors, With Bits of Colored Embroidery”, in The Journal and Tribune, volume 30, number 235, Knoxville, Tenn., page 6:
3. (no-comparative) Of or belonging to a first family.
   • First Cat; First Daughter; First Dog; First Son
4. (no-comparative) Coming right after the zeroth in things that use zero-based numbering.

Forms

Relateds

fore · for

Synonyms

maiden · prime

Translations (288)

mnc ᡠᠵᡠᡳ (numeral first — see also 1st) · nl eerst (numeral first — see also 1st) · gez ቀዳሚ (numeral first — see also 1st) · fy earst (numeral first — see also 1st) · sh prvi (numeral first — see also 1st) · kok पयलें (numeral first — see also 1st) · fa یکمین (numeral first — see also 1st) · nv áłtsé (numeral first — see also 1st) · lv pirmais (numeral first — see also 1st) · wal koyro (numeral first — see also 1st) · sl pŕvi (numeral first — see also 1st) · bg пъ́рви (numeral first — see also 1st) · wa prumire (numeral first — see also 1st) · nds eerst (numeral first — see also 1st) · ur پہلا (numeral first — see also 1st) · os фыццаг (numeral first — see also 1st) · frr jest (numeral first — see also 1st) · mn анхны (numeral first — see also 1st) · fa نخستین (numeral first — see also 1st) · otk 𐰃𐰠𐰚 (numeral first — see also 1st) · da første (numeral first — see also 1st) · ta முதல் (numeral first — see also 1st) · nb første (numeral first — see also 1st) · gu પહેલું (numeral first — see also 1st) · sgs pėrms (numeral first — see also 1st) · pl pierwszy (numeral first — see also 1st) · ang ǣrest (numeral first — see also 1st) · ur اوّل (numeral first — see also 1st) · fr -unième (numeral first — see also 1st) · sco first (numeral first — see also 1st) · gd a' chiad (numeral first — see also 1st) · ja 初めて (numeral first — see also 1st) · mwl purmeiro (numeral first — see also 1st) · he רִאשׁוֹן (numeral first — see also 1st) · dv އެއްވަނަ (numeral first — see also 1st) · grc πρῶτος (numeral first — see also 1st) · tg якум (numeral first — see also 1st) · vi đầu tiên (numeral first — see also 1st) · et esimene (numeral first — see also 1st) · izh ensimäin (numeral first — see also 1st) · rgn prèm (numeral first — see also 1st) · mk прв (numeral first — see also 1st) · wa -ey-ininme (numeral first — see also 1st) · sd پهرِين (numeral first — see also 1st) · ro prim (numeral first — see also 1st) · nah achtoquetl (numeral first — see also 1st) · yai якум (numeral first — see also 1st) · ryu 初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · ryn 初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · id perdana (numeral first — see also 1st) · haw mua (numeral first — see also 1st) · dlg маӈнайгы (numeral first — see also 1st) · cy cyntaf (numeral first — see also 1st) · el πρώτος (numeral first — see also 1st) · dlm prein (numeral first — see also 1st) · toi ansyini (numeral first — see also 1st) · ur یکم (numeral first — see also 1st) · lo ທີ່ນຶ່ງ (numeral first — see also 1st) · syl ꠚꠂꠟꠣ (numeral first — see also 1st) · sd پهريون (numeral first — see also 1st) · cv пӗрремӗш (numeral first — see also 1st) · tyv баштайгы (numeral first — see also 1st) · vi thứ nhất (numeral first — see also 1st) · th ที่หนึ่ง (numeral first — see also 1st) · ba беренсе (numeral first — see also 1st) · crh birinci (numeral first — see also 1st) · hi अव्वल (numeral first — see also 1st) · ko 제일 (numeral first — see also 1st) · dsb prědny (numeral first — see also 1st) · hi पहिला (numeral first — see also 1st) · sah маҥнайгы (numeral first — see also 1st) · ga céad (numeral first — see also 1st) · kmr yekemîn (numeral first — see also 1st) · rm emprim (numeral first — see also 1st) · tpn ypy (numeral first — see also 1st) · tt беренче (numeral first — see also 1st) · qu hukñiqin (numeral first — see also 1st) · uz birinchi (numeral first — see also 1st) · lt pi̇̀rmas (numeral first — see also 1st) · ur اولین (numeral first — see also 1st) · nn fyrste (numeral first — see also 1st) · ky биринчи (numeral first — see also 1st) · gag birinci (numeral first — see also 1st) · ceb una (numeral first — see also 1st) · kjh пірінӌі (numeral first — see also 1st) · gld бонго (numeral first — see also 1st) · rue пе́рвый (numeral first — see also 1st) · ady апэрэ (numeral first — see also 1st) · te ప్రథమము (numeral first — see also 1st) · mn нэгдэх (numeral first — see also 1st) · sk prvý (numeral first — see also 1st) · sah биирис (numeral first — see also 1st) · wa prumî (numeral first — see also 1st) · yo àkọ́kọ́ (numeral first — see also 1st) · lv pirmā (numeral first — see also 1st) · fi ensimmäinen (numeral first — see also 1st) · mnc ᠪᠣᠩᡤᠣ (numeral first — see also 1st) · mr पहिले (numeral first — see also 1st) · fy foarst (numeral first — see also 1st) · ja 最初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · ia prime (numeral first — see also 1st) · is fyrstur (numeral first — see also 1st) · aii ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܵܐ (numeral first — see also 1st) · nci ic ce (numeral first — see also 1st) · kab amenzu (numeral first — see also 1st) · ur نخستین (numeral first — see also 1st) · lou prinmiyé (numeral first — see also 1st) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌰 (numeral first — see also 1st) · eo unua (numeral first — see also 1st) · frr iarst (numeral first — see also 1st) · gv kied (numeral first — see also 1st) · lkt t’okaheya (numeral first — see also 1st) · gv yn chied (numeral first — see also 1st) · ar أُولَى (numeral first — see also 1st) · yue 最初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · ug بىرىنچى (numeral first — see also 1st) · xug 初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · lo ທີ່ໜຶ່ງ (numeral first — see also 1st) · rom jekhto (numeral first — see also 1st) · cs první (numeral first — see also 1st) · liv ežmi (numeral first — see also 1st) · tr ilk (numeral first — see also 1st) · hi प्रारंभिक (numeral first — see also 1st) · fa اول (numeral first — see also 1st) · tr birinci (numeral first — see also 1st) · lld prim (numeral first — see also 1st) · yue 第一 (numeral first — see also 1st) · grc πρώτιστος (numeral first — see also 1st) · frr jarst (numeral first — see also 1st) · war una (numeral first — see also 1st) · de erster (numeral first — see also 1st) · br kentañ (numeral first — see also 1st) · lkt t’oka (numeral first — see also 1st) · be пе́ршы (numeral first — see also 1st) · bn প্রথম (numeral first — see also 1st) · sq parë (numeral first — see also 1st) · kmr yekem (numeral first — see also 1st) · vot esimein (numeral first — see also 1st) · zh 第一 (numeral first — see also 1st) · bh पहिला (numeral first — see also 1st) · yo kìíní (numeral first — see also 1st) · ce хьалхара (numeral first — see also 1st) · chr ᎢᎬᏱᎢ (numeral first — see also 1st) · xag 𐕚𐔴𐕙𐔱𐔰𐕒𐕡𐕎 (numeral first — see also 1st) · bo དང་པོ། (numeral first — see also 1st) · frr iáárs (numeral first — see also 1st) · tig ቀዳም (numeral first — see also 1st) · sv förste (numeral first — see also 1st) · fo fyrri (numeral first — see also 1st) · lou prémiyé (numeral first — see also 1st) · eu lehenengo (numeral first — see also 1st) · hsb prěni (numeral first — see also 1st) · oc primièr (numeral first — see also 1st) · io unesma (numeral first — see also 1st) · bua нэгэдэхи (numeral first — see also 1st) · se vuosttaš (numeral first — see also 1st) · jje 쳇차 (numeral first — see also 1st) · alt биринчи (numeral first — see also 1st) · evn элэкэсипты (numeral first — see also 1st) · fr premier (numeral first — see also 1st) · alt баштапкы (numeral first — see also 1st) · mr पहिली (numeral first — see also 1st) · hak 第一 (numeral first — see also 1st) · egy tp:p*y (numeral first — see also 1st) · mn анхдугаар (numeral first — see also 1st) · cjs паштапқы (numeral first — see also 1st) · sa प्रथम (numeral first — see also 1st) · rys 初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · txb pärweṣṣe (numeral first — see also 1st) · mnc ᡠᠵᡠ (numeral first — see also 1st) · hi प्रथम (numeral first — see also 1st) · mi tuatahi (numeral first — see also 1st) · sc primu (numeral first — see also 1st) · ps لومړی (numeral first — see also 1st) · nv łáaʼii góneʼ (numeral first — see also 1st) · as পহিলা (numeral first — see also 1st) · az birinci (numeral first — see also 1st) · mr पहिला (numeral first — see also 1st) · prg pirmas (numeral first — see also 1st) · rm emprem (numeral first — see also 1st) · as প্ৰথম (numeral first — see also 1st) · km ទីមួយ (numeral first — see also 1st) · ko 최초 (numeral first — see also 1st) · gd a' cheud (numeral first — see also 1st) · uk пе́рший (numeral first — see also 1st) · sc primmu (numeral first — see also 1st) · tg аввал (numeral first — see also 1st) · ja 初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · sv först (numeral first — see also 1st) · hy առաջին (numeral first — see also 1st) · hi पहला (numeral first — see also 1st) · pt primeiro (numeral first — see also 1st) · fur prin (numeral first — see also 1st) · xqa اِلْكْ (numeral first — see also 1st) · lkt t’okeya (numeral first — see also 1st) · kn ಒಂದನೆಯ (numeral first — see also 1st) · scn primu (numeral first — see also 1st) · ms pertama (numeral first — see also 1st) · az ilk (numeral first — see also 1st) · kab amezwaru (numeral first — see also 1st) · mvi 初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · tr evvel (numeral first — see also 1st) · ast primeru (numeral first — see also 1st) · war siyahan (numeral first — see also 1st) · ttj okubanza (numeral first — see also 1st) · ang forma (numeral first — see also 1st) · pi paṭhama (numeral first — see also 1st) · ml ഒന്നാം (numeral first — see also 1st) · si පළමු (numeral first — see also 1st) · sw -a kwanza (numeral first — see also 1st) · ar أَوَّل (numeral first — see also 1st) · ja 一番目 (numeral first — see also 1st) · la prīmus (numeral first — see also 1st) · es primer (numeral first — see also 1st) · zh 第一 (numeral first — see also 1st) · txb parwe (numeral first — see also 1st) · ja 第一 (numeral first — see also 1st) · am አንደኛ (numeral first — see also 1st) · nrf preunmyi (numeral first — see also 1st) · ase 1@Side-PalmForward 1@Side-PalmBack (numeral first — see also 1st) · ka პირველი (numeral first — see also 1st) · ofs forma (numeral first — see also 1st) · war primero (numeral first — see also 1st) · yua yáax (numeral first — see also 1st) · cu прьвъ (numeral first — see also 1st) · ofs ērosta (numeral first — see also 1st) · id kesatu (numeral first — see also 1st) · te ఒకటవ (numeral first — see also 1st) · fa اولین (numeral first — see also 1st) · bn পহেলা (numeral first — see also 1st) · chk aewin (numeral first — see also 1st) · rue пе́ршый (numeral first — see also 1st) · ko 첫째 (numeral first — see also 1st) · pa ਪਹਿਲਾ (numeral first — see also 1st) · lb éischt (numeral first — see also 1st) · vec primo (numeral first — see also 1st) · ko 첫 번째 (numeral first — see also 1st) · bn আউয়াল (numeral first — see also 1st) · xal негдгч (numeral first — see also 1st) · ti ቀዳማይ (numeral first — see also 1st) · te మొదటి (numeral first — see also 1st) · lo ທີ່ຫນຶ່ງ (numeral first — see also 1st) · id pertama (numeral first — see also 1st) · fa یکم (numeral first — see also 1st) · aii ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ (numeral first — see also 1st) · pdc erscht (numeral first — see also 1st) · ar أول (numeral first — see also 1st) · ur نخست (numeral first — see also 1st) · ist preîmo (numeral first — see also 1st) · hu első (numeral first — see also 1st) · af eerste (numeral first — see also 1st) · ga aonú (numeral first — see also 1st) · mt l-ewwel (numeral first — see also 1st) · cjs пиринчи (numeral first — see also 1st) · mn нэгдүгээр (numeral first — see also 1st) · sh први (numeral first — see also 1st) · crh sipti (numeral first — see also 1st) · mnc ᡝᠮᡠᠴᡳ (numeral first — see also 1st) · ckb یەکەم (numeral first — see also 1st) · ca primer (numeral first — see also 1st) · xdq ца́йбил (numeral first — see also 1st) · gug ypy (numeral first — see also 1st) · lld prum (numeral first — see also 1st) · ru пе́рвый (numeral first — see also 1st) · el πρᾶτος (numeral first — see also 1st) · gl primeiro (numeral first — see also 1st) · xwo ᠨᡅᡎᡄᡑᡉᡍᡔᡅ (numeral first — see also 1st) · tk birinji (numeral first — see also 1st) · nn første (numeral first — see also 1st) · mfe premie (numeral first — see also 1st) · it primo (numeral first — see also 1st) · fa نخست (numeral first — see also 1st) · my ပထမ (numeral first — see also 1st) · de erste (numeral first — see also 1st) · ltg pyrmais (numeral first — see also 1st) · sv första (numeral first — see also 1st) · kjh пастағы (numeral first — see also 1st) · tl una (numeral first — see also 1st) · ht premye (numeral first — see also 1st) · tyv бирги (numeral first — see also 1st) · pdt ieescht (numeral first — see also 1st) · ab актәи (numeral first — see also 1st) · fo fyrsti (numeral first — see also 1st) · mi te tahi (numeral first — see also 1st) · kk бірінші (numeral first — see also 1st) · ccc mashapulista (numeral first — see also 1st) · zh 最初 (numeral first — see also 1st) · yi ערשט (numeral first — see also 1st)

first en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [fəɹst] (Canada)
• /fɜːst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fə(r)sʈ/ non-rhotic, also
• /føːst/ (New-Zealand)
• /fʌrst/ (Scotland)
• [fɚːst] (Canada)
• fŭrst (General-American)
• /fɜ(r)sʈ/
• /fɔːst/ (Northumbria)
• /fɪrst/ (Scotland)
• /fɪrst/ (Early, Modern, rare)
• /fɚst/ (General-American)
• /fʊrst/ (Early, Modern)
• /fʊːɹs/ Local Dublin
• /feːst/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /føːst/ (Wales)
• /fɛːst/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English first, furst, ferst, fyrst, from Old English fyrest, from Proto-West Germanic *furist, from Proto-Germanic *furistaz (“first, foremost”), superlative of Proto-Germanic *furai, *furi (“before”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”), from *per- (“before; first”), equivalent to fore + -est. Cognates Cognate with Scots first (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), vorst (“prince”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Limburgish Vürsch (“prince”), Luxembourgish viischt (“anterior; forward”), Vilamovian fiyśt, fjəšt, fjyśt, fjyšt (“prince”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål først (“first”), Faroese and Icelandic fyrstur (“first”), Norwegian Nynorsk fyrst, først (“first”), Swedish först (“first”); also Latin prīnceps (“first, foremost; chief”), Greek παρ’ (par’), παρά (pará, “despite; less”), Mycenaean Greek 𐀞𐀫 (pa-ro, “from”), Albanian parë (“first; chief, main”), Latgalian pyrmais (“first”), Latvian pirmais (“first; foremost”), Lithuanian pirmas (“first; primary”), Bulgarian пъ́рви (pắrvi), пръ́в (prắv, “first”), Czech and Slovak prvý (“first”), Macedonian прв (prv), први (prvi, “first”), Polish piersy, pierwszy, pirszy (“first”), Russian пе́рвый (pérvyj, “first”), Serbo-Croatian пр̑вӣ, pȓvī (“first”), Slovene prvi (“first”), Armenian հարավ (harav, “south”), Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬎𐬎𐬀 (paᵘruua, “before, first”), Tocharian A pärwat (“first”), Tocharian B parwe (“first”), Sanskrit पूर्व (pūrva, “before”).

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Before anything else; firstly.
   • 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. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
   • Clean the sink first, before you even think of starting to cook.
   • Since the mid-1980s, when Indonesia first began to clear its bountiful forests on an industrial scale in favour of lucrative palm-oil plantations, “haze” has become an almost annual occurrence in South-East Asia. 2013 June 29, “Unspontaneous combustion”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2023, page 29:
   • I plunged nose first into the water.
2. (not-comparable) For the first time.
   • I first witnessed a death when I was nine years old.

Forms

Translations (135)

zh 先 (before anything else) · th ก่อน (before anything else) · zh 最先 (before anything else) · fa نخست (before anything else) · de erstens (before anything else) · ru во-пе́рвых (before anything else) · yue 第一 (before anything else) · ja 先に (before anything else) · ja 第一に (before anything else) · xqa اِلْكْ (before anything else) · bni yambo (before anything else) · el πρωτίστως (before anything else) · fo fyrst (before anything else) · zh 首先 (before anything else) · hi अव्वल (before anything else) · el πρώτα (before anything else) · ta முதலில் (before anything else) · tr ilk (before anything else) · ba элек (before anything else) · de zuerst (before anything else) · pl pierw (before anything else) · tt башта (before anything else) · be спача́тку (before anything else) · lkt t’oel (before anything else) · ar أَوَّلاً (before anything else) · ps لومړی (before anything else) · ja 最初に (before anything else) · ca primer (before anything else) · is fyrst (before anything else) · kmr pêşî (before anything else) · eu aurreneko (before anything else) · fi ensin (before anything else) · tt беренчедән (before anything else) · tt беренчегә (before anything else) · tt алдан (before anything else) · mk прво (before anything else) · vi trước nhất (before anything else) · gl primeiro (before anything else) · ln yambo (before anything else) · grc πρῶτον (before anything else) · hu előtte (before anything else) · da først (before anything else) · be па-пе́ршае (before anything else) · ml ആദ്യം (before anything else) · lkt t’oeyaš (before anything else) · nb først (before anything else) · ba тәүҙә (before anything else) · fi ensinnäkin (before anything else) · ml ഒന്നാമത് (before anything else) · ast primeramente (before anything else) · sv först (before anything else) · hi प्रारंभिक (before anything else) · ru сперва́ (before anything else) · sk po prvé (before anything else) · es para empezar (before anything else) · zh 第一 (before anything else) · vi trước tiên (before anything else) · ba алда (before anything else) · vi trước hết (before anything else) · rup ntãnj (before anything else) · tr önce (before anything else) · yi פֿריִער (before anything else) · nn fyrst (before anything else) · got 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌸𐌹𐍃 (before anything else) · ru в пе́рвую о́чередь (before anything else) · fr d'abord (before anything else) · hu először (before anything else) · mi mātua (before anything else) · mk најпрвин (before anything else) · pl po pierwsze (before anything else) · pl najpierw (before anything else) · lkt t’owaš (before anything else) · uk по-пе́рше (before anything else) · pl nasamprzód (before anything else) · nn først (before anything else) · ru пре́жде всего́ (before anything else) · uk спе́ршу (before anything else) · lkt t’ok’eyaš (before anything else) · hu előbb (before anything else) · qu ñawpa (before anything else) · az əvvəl (before anything else) · bg пъ́рво (before anything else) · uk споча́тку (before anything else) · ro întâi (before anything else) · ceb una (before anything else) · mk најпрво (before anything else) · zdj rangu (before anything else) · la prīmum (before anything else) · it dapprima (before anything else) · ja 先ず (before anything else) · nl eerst (before anything else) · mk првин (before anything else) · hy նախ (before anything else) · pl pierwej (before anything else) · ko 우선 (before anything else) · fr primo (before anything else) · cs zaprvé (before anything else) · fr avant tout (before anything else) · sq nëfillim (before anything else) · fr en premier lieu (before anything else) · it prima (before anything else) · ba башта (before anything else) · ga ar dtús (before anything else) · pl na wstępie (before anything else) · es primeramente (before anything else) · sq para (before anything else) · yue 先 (before anything else) · pl na początku (before anything else) · pl najsampierw (before anything else) · mnb deki (before anything else) · pl naprzód (before anything else) · se vuos (before anything else) · aii ܩܲܕ݇ܡܬܵܐ (before anything else) · ba борон (before anything else) · ug ئاۋۋال (before anything else) · rup ntãnjiu (before anything else) · pl wpierw (before anything else) · eo unue (before anything else) · de an erster Stelle (before anything else) · ba алдан (before anything else) · fr auparavant (before anything else) · kmr ewilî (before anything else) · th ก่อนอื่น (before anything else) · de als Erstes (before anything else) · az ilk növbədə (before anything else) · af eerste (before anything else) · tr başta (before anything else) · aii ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܐܝܼܬ (before anything else) · zza sıfte (before anything else) · ceb permiro (before anything else) · gd an toiseach (before anything else) · pt primeiro (before anything else) · fr premièrement (before anything else) · fi ensiksi (before anything else) · cs prvně (before anything else)

first en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [fəɹst] (Canada)
• /fɜːst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fə(r)sʈ/ non-rhotic, also
• /føːst/ (New-Zealand)
• /fʌrst/ (Scotland)
• [fɚːst] (Canada)
• fŭrst (General-American)
• /fɜ(r)sʈ/
• /fɔːst/ (Northumbria)
• /fɪrst/ (Scotland)
• /fɪrst/ (Early, Modern, rare)
• /fɚst/ (General-American)
• /fʊrst/ (Early, Modern)
• /fʊːɹs/ Local Dublin
• /feːst/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /føːst/ (Wales)
• /fɛːst/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English first, furst, ferst, fyrst, from Old English fyrest, from Proto-West Germanic *furist, from Proto-Germanic *furistaz (“first, foremost”), superlative of Proto-Germanic *furai, *furi (“before”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”), from *per- (“before; first”), equivalent to fore + -est. Cognates Cognate with Scots first (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), vorst (“prince”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Limburgish Vürsch (“prince”), Luxembourgish viischt (“anterior; forward”), Vilamovian fiyśt, fjəšt, fjyśt, fjyšt (“prince”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål først (“first”), Faroese and Icelandic fyrstur (“first”), Norwegian Nynorsk fyrst, først (“first”), Swedish först (“first”); also Latin prīnceps (“first, foremost; chief”), Greek παρ’ (par’), παρά (pará, “despite; less”), Mycenaean Greek 𐀞𐀫 (pa-ro, “from”), Albanian parë (“first; chief, main”), Latgalian pyrmais (“first”), Latvian pirmais (“first; foremost”), Lithuanian pirmas (“first; primary”), Bulgarian пъ́рви (pắrvi), пръ́в (prắv, “first”), Czech and Slovak prvý (“first”), Macedonian прв (prv), први (prvi, “first”), Polish piersy, pierwszy, pirszy (“first”), Russian пе́рвый (pérvyj, “first”), Serbo-Croatian пр̑вӣ, pȓvī (“first”), Slovene prvi (“first”), Armenian հարավ (harav, “south”), Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬎𐬎𐬀 (paᵘruua, “before, first”), Tocharian A pärwat (“first”), Tocharian B parwe (“first”), Sanskrit पूर्व (pūrva, “before”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The person or thing in the first position.
   • He was the first to complete the course.
   • 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. 1699, William Temple, Heads designed for an essay on conversations:
2. (uncountable) The first gear of an engine.
3. (countable) Something that has never happened before; a new occurrence.
   • I remember other firsts: how I wussily asked her out the first time, and the first time I told her I loved her. 2020, Jim Pace, Should We Fire God?:
   • This is a first. For once he has nothing to say.
4. (countable) First base.
   • There was a close play at first.
5. (UK, colloquial, countable) A first-class honours degree.
   • [Stephen Hawking] […] would go to Cambridge, he said, if they gave him a first, and stay at Oxford if they gave him a second. He got a first. 2004, William H. Cropper, Great Physicists, page 454:
6. (colloquial, countable) A first-edition copy of some publication.
7. (countable, in-compounds, uncountable) A fraction whose (integer) denominator ends in the digit 1.
   • one forty-first of the estate

Forms

Translations (80)

fi ykkönen (person or thing in the first position) · th อันดับแรก (person or thing in the first position) · tr ilk (new occurrence) · mk прв (person or thing in the first position) · de Novum (new occurrence) · ro primul (person or thing in the first position) · eu lehenengo (person or thing in the first position) · ia primo (person or thing in the first position) · ro întâiul (person or thing in the first position) · nl eerste (person or thing in the first position) · fi ensimmäinen kerta (new occurrence) · fi ensipainos (colloquial: a first-edition copy) · nl origineel (colloquial: a first-edition copy) · txb parwe (person or thing in the first position) · sc primmu (person or thing in the first position) · cs první (person or thing in the first position) · da den første (person or thing in the first position) · ceb orihinal (colloquial: a first-edition copy) · hy առաջին (person or thing in the first position) · fi yhdesosa (fraction of an integer ending in one) · ps لومړی (person or thing in the first position) · gl primeiro (person or thing in the first position) · th ที่แรก (person or thing in the first position) · bn পহেলা (person or thing in the first position) · th ลำดับแรก (person or thing in the first position) · pt primeiro (person or thing in the first position) · fr premier (person or thing in the first position) · da den forreste (person or thing in the first position) · tr ilk (person or thing in the first position) · th ครั้งแรก (new occurrence) · hi प्रथम (person or thing in the first position) · th ที่หนึ่ง (person or thing in the first position) · ceb primero (person or thing in the first position) · pl pierwszy (person or thing in the first position) · rm emprim (person or thing in the first position) · ckb یەکەم (person or thing in the first position) · it primo (person or thing in the first position) · bn আউয়াল (person or thing in the first position) · th เกียรตินิยมอันดับหนึ่ง (UK colloquial: first-class honours degree) · hi अव्वल (person or thing in the first position) · hu első (person or thing in the first position) · hi प्रारंभिक (person or thing in the first position) · es estreno (new occurrence) · tr birinci (person or thing in the first position) · cic ammo'na' (person or thing in the first position) · ca primer (person or thing in the first position) · sv etta (person or thing in the first position) · aii ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܵܐ (person or thing in the first position) · ar أَوَّل (person or thing in the first position) · ceb permiro (person or thing in the first position) · rup ntãnj (person or thing in the first position) · mi tuatahi (person or thing in the first position) · es primero (person or thing in the first position) · bg начало (new occurrence) · fur prin (person or thing in the first position) · ro întâi (person or thing in the first position) · be пе́ршы (person or thing in the first position) · rm emprem (person or thing in the first position) · es primo (person or thing in the first position) · hu -egyed (fraction of an integer ending in one) · sc primu (person or thing in the first position) · bn প্রথম (person or thing in the first position) · de Erste (person or thing in the first position) · th อันดับหนึ่ง (person or thing in the first position) · ml ഒന്നാമൻ (person or thing in the first position) · el πρώτος (person or thing in the first position) · ceb una (person or thing in the first position) · fr première (new occurrence) · cic ámmo'na (person or thing in the first position) · uk пе́рший (person or thing in the first position) · rup ntãnjiu (person or thing in the first position) · xto pärwat (person or thing in the first position) · bg първене́ц (person or thing in the first position) · mi mātāmua (person or thing in the first position) · tr başlangıç (new occurrence) · ru пе́рвый (person or thing in the first position) · dlm prein (person or thing in the first position) · aii ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ (person or thing in the first position) · oc primièr (person or thing in the first position) · eo unua (person or thing in the first position)

first en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [fəɹst] (Canada)
• /fɜːst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fə(r)sʈ/ non-rhotic, also
• /føːst/ (New-Zealand)
• /fʌrst/ (Scotland)
• [fɚːst] (Canada)
• fŭrst (General-American)
• /fɜ(r)sʈ/
• /fɔːst/ (Northumbria)
• /fɪrst/ (Scotland)
• /fɪrst/ (Early, Modern, rare)
• /fɚst/ (General-American)
• /fʊrst/ (Early, Modern)
• /fʊːɹs/ Local Dublin
• /feːst/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /føːst/ (Wales)
• /fɛːst/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English first, furst, ferst, fyrst, from Old English fyrest, from Proto-West Germanic *furist, from Proto-Germanic *furistaz (“first, foremost”), superlative of Proto-Germanic *furai, *furi (“before”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”), from *per- (“before; first”), equivalent to fore + -est. Cognates Cognate with Scots first (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), vorst (“prince”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Limburgish Vürsch (“prince”), Luxembourgish viischt (“anterior; forward”), Vilamovian fiyśt, fjəšt, fjyśt, fjyšt (“prince”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål først (“first”), Faroese and Icelandic fyrstur (“first”), Norwegian Nynorsk fyrst, først (“first”), Swedish först (“first”); also Latin prīnceps (“first, foremost; chief”), Greek παρ’ (par’), παρά (pará, “despite; less”), Mycenaean Greek 𐀞𐀫 (pa-ro, “from”), Albanian parë (“first; chief, main”), Latgalian pyrmais (“first”), Latvian pirmais (“first; foremost”), Lithuanian pirmas (“first; primary”), Bulgarian пъ́рви (pắrvi), пръ́в (prắv, “first”), Czech and Slovak prvý (“first”), Macedonian прв (prv), први (prvi, “first”), Polish piersy, pierwszy, pirszy (“first”), Russian пе́рвый (pérvyj, “first”), Serbo-Croatian пр̑вӣ, pȓvī (“first”), Slovene prvi (“first”), Armenian հարավ (harav, “south”), Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬎𐬎𐬀 (paᵘruua, “before, first”), Tocharian A pärwat (“first”), Tocharian B parwe (“first”), Sanskrit पूर्व (pūrva, “before”).

Meanings

1. (rare, transitive) To propose (a new motion) in a meeting, which must subsequently be seconded.
   • Sure—er—well, the motion was firsted and seconded that we kick ’em out; […] 1920, Rural Manhood, volume 11, page 241, column 1:
   • Sure, Brother Severn, I second that motion. If you hadn’t got ahead of me I’d have firsted it myself. 1922, Grace Livingston Hill, The City of Fire, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, page 139:
   • This motion has been firsted and seconded. I desire to third it. 1828, Diary of Thomas Burton, Esq. Member in the Parliaments of Oliver and Richard Cromwell, from 1656 to 1659: […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], page 290:

Forms

Deriveds

first freedom rights (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first fiddle (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first bite free (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firster (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · facefirst (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first mile (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first catch your hare (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first mover (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · single-first cousin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first thing (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first position (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-come-first-served (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cosmic velocity (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · local-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first sergeant (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first notice day (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · Healey's first law of holes (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-class citizen (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Happy Time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-party logistics (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first off (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first love (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first woman (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · cloud-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first water (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · safety first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · AI-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first sale doctrine (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · ship of the line ensign first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · deputy first minister (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · put one's oxygen mask on first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-person shooter (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-teamer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first lady (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first derivative (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-party cookie (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · tender-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · face first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · ladies first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first exit time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first angle projection (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first up (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first palatalization (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · ceremonial first pitch (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · not one's first rodeo (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-degree murder (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first things first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first touch (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · fifty-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstfruit (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first quarter (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-mover disadvantage (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · database-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-order hold (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-time buyer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · sergeant first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first violinist (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first dibs (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · seventy-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · half first cousin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · have the first idea (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · code-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · not have the first idea (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstripe (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first principles (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · ninety-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first isomorphism theorem (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · of the first water (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-wave feminism (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · feet-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-hand (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · thirty-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · right of first refusal (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · Firstspace (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · double first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first receiver (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · let he who is without sin cast the first stone (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-generation (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · the first turn of the screw pays all debts (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first philosophy (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first of all (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first string (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first order stream (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first e-rights (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstcomer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first in first out (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first leg (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first call (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-stringer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first come, first served (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Cat (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first folio (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first school (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first flight cover (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Man (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first rate (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · let him who is without sin cast the first stone (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first responder (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · play first fiddle (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first eleven (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-footing (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-order spectrum (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first arch syndrome (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first truth (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-person singular (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first return time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-run (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first session (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first baseman (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · people-first language (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first come first served (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · depth-first search (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · tribunal of first instance (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · the first step is always the hardest (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · fifty-first state (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first olive out of the bottle (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · mobile-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-born (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Lord (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · airman first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first point of Aries (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first aid (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · no plan survives first contact with the enemy (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Guy (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-day cover (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first impression (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Partner (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first and foremost (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Pooch (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · in the first instance (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first annual (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · breadth-first search (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · health is your first wealth (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · double first cousin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-person dual (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · petty officer first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first to last (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · love at first sight (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · chief petty officer first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · women and children first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first choice (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · half-first cousin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at first sight (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first best (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · error of the first kind (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first declension (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first five-eighth (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first mate (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first watch (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Presidency (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · webfirst (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first reader (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · court of first instance (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-year (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first inversion (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · shoot first and ask questions later (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first gear (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-person (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · time first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first conditional (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at first blush (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-class value (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-order logic (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-degree relative (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · on first-name terms (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · in the first place (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-rate (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firsthand (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first name (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Sea Lord (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first estate (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first hit time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-fit (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Lady (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at the first brunt (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first point of Capricorn (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first loser (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · headfirst (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-of-its-kind (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstling (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first point of Libra (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · feetfirst (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cousin twice removed (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first success distribution (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first normal form (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Nation (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first city (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-passage time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first reading (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first past the post (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · nose-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first death (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first down (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · the first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · come first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first day cover (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · private first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first unit (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first fundamental form (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first gentleman (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · standfirst (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · to a first approximation (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-person plural (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · blink first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first grader (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · get to first base (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Son (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first flush (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · party of the first part (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first shift (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first grade (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-timer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cross-cousin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first milk (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-string (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cousin thrice removed (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first year (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first island chain (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · forty-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · not if I see you first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first team (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · ship-of-the-line ensign first class (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First day (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · murder in the first degree (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-degree burn (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first flight (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first strike (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first language (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first sleep (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-class object (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first party (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · interfirst (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · book of first entry (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-personal (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at the first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · splendid first strike (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first finger (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · put one's own oxygen mask on first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first light (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first imperative (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first half (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · make the first move (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstness (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-waver (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Month (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first aid kit (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstly (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first world problem (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · model-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first rain (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Hungarian Republic (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · if at first you don't succeed (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · last in first out (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first class match (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first fruits (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-nighter (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first night (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first person (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first officer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · sixty-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · director of first impressions (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-sale doctrine (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cousin once removed (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first fifteen (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Citizen (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first order of the day (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first edition (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first minister (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-line (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Nations (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at first glance (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first article (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at first bluff (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first footing (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-degree (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · there's a first time for everything (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · let him that is without sin cast the first stone (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first slip (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-chop (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first point of Cancer (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · head first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · on a first-name basis (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first violin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstborn (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Husband (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first principle (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first contact (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cranial nerve (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · who's on first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · eighty-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · pinch and a punch for the first of the month (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first floor (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First Island Chain (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first passage time (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-class continuation (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first olive out of the jar (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · feet first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-aid box (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · First French Empire (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · head-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cause (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-half (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-chance exception (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-aider (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first hand (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-party (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first digit (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · twenty-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first division (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first pick (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first port of call (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first basing (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first blood (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firstie (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first lieutenant (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first chair (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · Newton's first law (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-ever (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first cousin (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · what was your first clue (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · touch-first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-foot (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · cast the first stone (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · dead first (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first and last (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-class entity (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first of never (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first among equals (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · firsthood (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-order (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · perpetual motion machine of the first kind (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · first-aid kit (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first) · at first hand (Terms derived from the adjective, adverb, or noun first)

Relateds

primus inter pares · primary

first en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• [fəɹst] (Canada)
• /fɜːst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fə(r)sʈ/ non-rhotic, also
• /føːst/ (New-Zealand)
• /fʌrst/ (Scotland)
• [fɚːst] (Canada)
• fŭrst (General-American)
• /fɜ(r)sʈ/
• /fɔːst/ (Northumbria)
• /fɪrst/ (Scotland)
• /fɪrst/ (Early, Modern, rare)
• /fɚst/ (General-American)
• /fʊrst/ (Early, Modern)
• /fʊːɹs/ Local Dublin
• /feːst/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /føːst/ (Wales)
• /fɛːst/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• (US) audio

Etymology

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.

Meanings

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

Forms