At first blush

At first blush
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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  • first blush — n: initial view, appearance, or consideration used esp. in the phrase at first blush an award can be set aside as excessive if at first blush it indicates prejudice on the part of the jury Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster.… …   Law dictionary

  • first blush — noun at the first glimpse or impression at first blush the idea possesses considerable intuitive appeal but on closer examination it fails • Hypernyms: ↑impression, ↑feeling, ↑belief, ↑notion, ↑opinion * * * first blush ▪ At the first glance or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • first blush rule — This rule, whereby a verdict may be set aside as excessive only if it is so to such an extent as to cause the mind at first blush to conclude that it was returned under influence of passion or prejudice on part of jury, is a mechanism to assist… …   Black's law dictionary

  • first blush rule — This rule, whereby a verdict may be set aside as excessive only if it is so to such an extent as to cause the mind at first blush to conclude that it was returned under influence of passion or prejudice on part of jury, is a mechanism to assist… …   Black's law dictionary

  • At first blush — Blush Blush, n. 1. A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of shame, confusion, or modesty. [1913 Webster] The rosy blush of love. Trumbull. [1913 Webster] 2. A red or reddish color; a rosy tint. [1913 Webster] Light s last… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • at first blush — adverb as a first impression at first blush the offer seemed attractive • Syn: ↑when first seen * * * at first blush phrase when you first think about or see something At first blush it looks like any other car. Thesaurus: from or at the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • at first blush — {adv. phr.} When first seen; without careful study. * /At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we found things we could not accept./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • at first blush — {adv. phr.} When first seen; without careful study. * /At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we found things we could not accept./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • at first blush — ► at first blush at the first glimpse or impression. Main Entry: ↑blush …   English terms dictionary

  • at\ first\ blush — adv. phr. When first seen; without careful study. At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we found things we could not accept …   Словарь американских идиом

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