being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc., used as the ordinal number of one: the first edition; the first vice president.
2.
Music. highest or chief among several voices or instruments of the same class: first alto; first horn.
(often initial capital letter) being a member of the household or an intimate acquaintance of the president of the U.S. or of the governor of a state: the First Lady; Checkers, the first dog.
–adverb
5.
before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc.
6.
before some other thing, event, etc.: If you're going, phone first.
7.
for the first time: She first visited Atlanta in 1980.
8.
in preference to something else; rather; sooner: I'd die first.
9.
in the first place; firstly.
–noun
10.
the person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, etc.
11.
the beginning.
12.
the first part; first member of a series.
13.
Music.
a.
the voice or instrument that takes the highest or chief part in its class, esp. in an orchestra or chorus.
b.
a leader of a part or group of performers.
14.
Automotive. low gear; first gear: She shifted into first and drove off.
15.
the winning position or rank in a race or other competition.
O.E. fyrst "foremost," superl. of fore, from P.Gmc. *furisto (cf. O.H.G. furist, O.N. fyrstr, Dan. første, O.Fris. fersta, M.Du. vorste "first," Ger. Fürst "prince"), superl. of *fur-/*for-, from PIE *pro- (cf. Skt. pura "before, formerly," Eng. fore). First-class (1858) "is from the universities via the railways" [Weekley]; first-rate (1666) is from classes of warships in the British navy. First aid is that given at the scene, pending the arrival of a doctor; firsthand is attested from 1732. First lady "wife of a U.S. president" seems to have been first used in 1948.
preceding all others in time or space or degree; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training" [ant: last]
2.
indicating the beginning unit in a series
3.
serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage" [syn: inaugural]
4.
serving to begin; "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse" [syn: beginning]
5.
ranking above all others; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"
6.
highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections; "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn" [ant: second]
adverb
1.
before anything else; "first we must consider the garter snake"
2.
the initial time; "when Felix first saw a garter snake"
3.
before another in time, space, or importance; "I was here first"; "let's do this job first"
4.
prominently forward; "he put his best foot foremost" [syn: foremost]
noun
1.
the first or highest in an ordering or series; "He wanted to be the first"
2.
the first element in a countable series; "the first of the month"
3.
the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her" [ant: middle, end]
4.
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate) [syn: first base]
5.
an honours degree of the highest class
6.
the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving [syn: first gear]
First Colony, TX (CDP, FIPS 25879) Location: 29.57454 N, 95.60831 W Population (1990): 18327 (5976 housing units) Area: 24.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Fid"dle\, n. [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fi?ele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fi?la, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]1. (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit. 2. (Bot.) A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; -- called also fiddle dock. 3. (Naut.) A rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. Fiddle beetle (Zo["o]l.), a Japanese carabid beetle (Damaster blaptoides); -- so called from the form of the body. Fiddle block (Naut.), a long tackle block having two sheaves of different diameters in the same plane, instead of side by side as in a common double block. --Knight. Fiddle bow, fiddlestick. Fiddle fish (Zo["o]l.), the angel fish. Fiddle head, an ornament on a ship's bow, curved like the volute or scroll at the head of a violin. Fiddle pattern, a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc., somewhat like a violin. Scotch fiddle, the itch. (Low) To playfirst, or second, fiddle, to take a leading or a subordinate part. [Colloq.]
First\, 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. 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.] Firstfruit 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.
First\, 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. 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.] Firstfruit 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.
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.
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.
For\, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f["u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f["o]r, Dan. for, adv. f["o]r, Goth. fa['u]r, fa['u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra-. [root] 202. Cf. Fore, First, Foremost, Forth, Pro-.] In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place. 1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done. With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. --Shak. How to choose dogs for scent or speed. --Waller. Now, for so many glorious actions done, For peace at home, and for the public wealth, I mean to crown a bowl for C[ae]sar's health. --Dryden. That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant. --Hooker. 2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done. The oak for nothing ill, The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill. --Spenser. It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters. --Bacon. Shall I think the worls was made for one, And men are born for kings, as beasts for men, Not for protection, but to be devoured? --Dryden. For he writes not for money, nor for praise. --Denham. 3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against. We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. --2 Cor. xiii. 8. It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health to be temperate. --Tillotson. Aristotle is for poetical justice. --Dennis. 4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ?ntending to go to. We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. --Bacon. 5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. --Ex. xxi. 23, 24. 6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being. We take a falling meteor for a star. --Cowley. If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru?? --Locke. Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet for their model. --Dryden. But let her go for an ungrateful woman. --Philips. 7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc. The writer will do what she please for all me. --Spectator. God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene. --Dr. H. More. For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us. --Swift. 8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of. For many miles about There 's scarce a bush. --Shak. Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing. --prior. To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day. --Garth. 9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.] We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet. --Beau. & Fl. For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently. See under As. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. --Josh. xxiv. 15. For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely tend. --Dryden. For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of. For all the world, wholly; exactly. "Whose posy was, for all the world, like cutlers' poetry." --Shak. For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing that; since. For by. See Forby, adv. For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever. For me, or For all me, as far as regards me. For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.] --T. Hook. For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.] "For that I love your daughter." --Shak. For thy, or Forthy [AS. for??.], for this; on this account. [Obs.] "Thomalin, have no care for thy." --Spenser. For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] -- "What went ye out for to see?" --Luke vii. 25. See To, prep., 4. O for, would that I had; may there be granted; -- elliptically expressing desire or prayer. "O for a muse of fire." --Shak. Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. "Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will." --Sir M. Hale.
Fore"most`\, a. [OE. formest first, AS. formest, fyrmest, superl. of forma first, which is a superl. fr. fore fore; cf. Goth. frumist, fruma, first. See Fore, adv., and cf. First, Former, Frame, v. t., Prime, a.] First in time or place; most advanced; chief in rank or dignity; as, the foremost troops of an army. THat struck the foremost man of all this world. --Shak.
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