First name

First name
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. [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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • first name — n 1.) the name or names that come before your family name = ↑Christian name →↑surname, last name ↑last name ▪ Her first name s Helen, but I don t know her surname. 2.) be on first name terms (with sb) BrE be on a fir …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • first name — first names N COUNT: usu poss N Your first name is the first of the names that were given to you when you were born. You can also refer to all of your names except your surname as your first names. Her first name was Mary. I don t know what her… …   English dictionary

  • first name — first ,name noun count * the name that comes before your family name: I don t know his first name. be on a first name basis with someone (=know them well enough to call them by their first name): She is on a first name basis with the boss …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • first name — ► NOUN ▪ a personal name given to someone at birth or baptism and used before a family name. ● on first name terms Cf. ↑on first name terms …   English terms dictionary

  • first name — Name Name (n[=a]m), n. [AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG. namo, G. name, Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, Goth. nam[=o], L. nomen (perh. influenced by noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr. o mona, Scr. n[=a]man. [root]267. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • first name — [n] forename baptismal name, baptism name, Christian name, given name; concepts 62,268 Ant. last name, surname …   New thesaurus

  • first name — ☆ first name n. GIVEN NAME * * * ➡ names * * * …   Universalium

  • first name — first′ name′ n. given name • Etymology: 1200–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • first name — see Christian name …   Modern English usage

  • first name */ — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms first name : singular first name plural first names the name that comes before your family name I don t know his first name. be on first name terms with someone (= know them well enough to call them by their… …   English dictionary

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