First (?), a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. forste, OHG. furist, G. furst 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 ∨ fruits. (a) The fruits of the season earliest gathered. (b) FeudalLaw 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.
© Webster 1913.
First (?), 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.
© Webster 1913.
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 preeminence in the combined effect.
© Webster 1913.