“first” – English explanatory dictionary

adj referring to the thing that comes before all other things (as a number can be written 1st) ○ My birthday is on the first of July or July the first (July 1st). ○ King Charles the First (Charles I) ○ It’s our baby’s first birthday on Tuesday. ○ The bank is the first building on the left past the post office. □ the first century the period from the year 1 to 99 AD ■ adv 1. at the beginning ○ She came first in the exam. □ at first at the beginning ○ At first he didn’t like the work, but later he got used to it. □ first come, first served dealing with things such as requests in the order in which they are received ○ Applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis. 2. before doing anything else ○ Wash your hands first, and then you can eat. 3. for the first time ○ When did you first meet your girlfriend? ■ noun the thing or person coming before everything else □ in first in first gear ○ The car climbed the hill in first. □ a first in Physics a first-class degree in Physics

a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. förste, OHG. furist, G. fürst 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.
2. Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
3. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. At first blush. See under Blush. — At first hand, from the first or original source; without the intervention of any agent. “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 or fruits. (a) The fruits of the season earliest gathered. (b) (Feudal Law) One year’s profits of lands belonging to the king on the death of a tenant who held directly from him. (c) (Eng. Eccl. Law) The first year’s whole profits of a benefice or spiritual living. (d) The earliest effects or results. “See, Father, what first fruits on earth are sprung
From thy implanted grace in man!” Milton. — First mate, an officer in a merchant vessel next in rank to the captain. — First name, same as Christian name. See under Name, n. — First officer (Naut.), in the merchant service, same as First mate (above). — First sergeant (Mil.), the ranking non-commissioned officer in a company; the orderly sergeant. Farrow. — First watch (Naut.), the watch from eight to twelve at midnight; also the men on duty during that time. — First water, the highest quality or purest luster; — said of gems, especially of diamond and pearls. Syn. — Primary; primordial; primitive; primeval; pristine; highest; chief; principal; foremost.

adv. Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; — much used in composition with adjectives and participles. “Adam was first formed, then Eve.” 1 Tim. ii. 13. At first, At the first, at the beginning or origin. — First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end. “And all are fools and lovers first or last.” Dryden.

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 preëminence in the combined effect.