[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

first \first\ f~erst, a. oe. first, furst, as. fyrst; akin
   to icel. fyrstr, sw.  dan. f"orste, ohg. furist, g.
   f"urst 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.
      1913 webster

   2. foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
      1913 webster

   3. most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest;
      as, demosthenes was the first orator of greece.
      1913 webster

   at first blush. see under blush.

   at first hand, from the first or original source; without
      the intervention of any agent.
      1913 webster

            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 first 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.
          1913 webster

                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.
        1913 webster
see also:
for fore formeer foremost at first blush blush 
at first hand first coat first day first floor first fruit 
first fruits first mate first name christian name name 
first officer first sergeant first watch first water 

First >> F Words
First, definition of term: First
first_pag1.html

First Name >> F Words
First Name, definition of term: First Name
first+name_pag1.html

First Person >> F Words
First Person, definition of term: First Person
first+person_pag1.html

First Water >> F Words
First Water, definition of term: First Water
first+water_pag1.html

First Generatio >> F Words
First Generatio, definition of term: First Generatio
first+generatio_pag1.html

First Reich >> F Words
First Reich, definition of term: First Reich
first+reich_pag1.html

First Lady >> F Words
First Lady, definition of term: First Lady
first+lady_pag1.html

First Amendment >> F Words
First Amendment, definition of term: First Amendment
first+amendment_pag1.html

First Aid >> F Words
First Aid, definition of term: First Aid
first+aid_pag1.html

First Estate >> F Words
First Estate, definition of term: First Estate
first+estate_pag1.html

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