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first (f<etil/rst), a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. frste, OHG. furis
| first | (f<etil/rst), a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. frste, OHG. furist, G. frst prince; a superlatiye form of E. for, fore. See For, Fore, and cf. Formeer, Foremost.] 1.
Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.
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2.
Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
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3.
Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
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At first blush. See under Blush. -- At first hand, from the first or original source; without the intervention of any agent.
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-It is the intention of the person to reveal it at first hand, by way of mouth, to yourself. Dickens.
-- First coat (Plastering), the solid foundation of coarse stuff, on which the rest is placed; it is thick, and crossed with lines, so as to give a bond for the next coat. -- First day, Sunday; -- so called by the Friends. -- First floor. (a) The ground floor. [U.S.] (b) The floor next above the ground floor. [Eng.] -- First fruit |
| first | (f<etil/rst), adv.
Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles.
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-Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1 Tim. ii. 13.
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At first, At the first, at the beginning or origin. -- First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end.
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-And all are fools and lovers first or last. Dryden.
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| first | , n. (Mus.)
The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preminence in the combined effect.
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