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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

First

First, a.

adjective

(18), a. [A-S. first, fyrst, fyrrest, Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. förste, O. H. Ger. furist, furisto, superlative of furi, before, Goth. faur, A-S. for, fore, fora, Icel. fyrir, Sw. för; whence O. H. Ger. furisto, furisto, M. H. Ger. fürste, N. H. Ger. fürst, Icel. fyrsti, fyrsti, Sw. förste, furste, Dan. förste, fyrste, D. vorst, prince, sovereign, properly, the first, foremost, chief, principal. See For.]

  1. Preceding all others of a series or kind; foremost; earliest; — the ordinal of one.
  2. Most forward; placed in front of, or in advance of, all others; foremost.
  3. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.

Syn.—Primary; primordial; original; primitive; primeval; pristine; highest; chief; principal.

First, adv. Before any thing else in time, space, rank, &c.;—used in composition with many adjectives and participles. Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1 Tim. ii. 15. 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.

First, n.

noun

n. (Mus.) The upper part of a duet, trio, &c., either vocal or instrumental;— so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a pre-eminence in the combined effect.