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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

First \First\ (f[~e]rst), a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin
to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. f["o]rste, OHG. furist, G.
f["u]rst 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} 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.
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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.
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First \First\ (f[~e]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 \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 pre["e]minence in the combined effect.
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