First fruits

First fruits
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 FRUITS — FIRST FRUITS, that portion of the fruits of each year s harvest that following the biblical injunction was to be taken to the Temple in Jerusalem. In the Bible The Hebrew term bikkurim and related terms for the first fruits derive from the same… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • First Fruits — are a religious offering of the first agricultural produce of the harvest. In classical Greek, Roman, Hebrew and Christian religions, the first fruits were offered to the temple or church. First Fruits were often a primary source of income to… …   Wikipedia

  • First-Fruits — • First fruit offerings are designated in the Law by a threefold name: Bíkkûrîm, Reshîth, and Terûmôth Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. First Fruits     First Fruits      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • first-fruits — firstˈ fruitˈ or first fruitsˈ noun 1. The fruits first gathered in a season 2. First products or effects of anything 3. Payment in the form of first crops of a season, or annates, to a superior • • • Main Entry: ↑first first fruits see under… …   Useful english dictionary

  • first fruits — n [plural] BrE the first good result of something first fruits of ▪ the first fruits of the government s privatization policy …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • first fruits — noun plural the first successful results of an activity …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • first fruits — first′ fruits′ n. pl. 1) agr. the earliest fruit of the season 2) the first products or results of anything • Etymology: 1350–1400 …   From formal English to slang

  • first fruits — n. [orig. transl. of Vulg. primitiae: see Ex. 23:16] 1. the earliest produce of the season 2. the first products, results, or profits of any activity …   English World dictionary

  • First-fruits —    The first fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the first born of man and animals.    The law required,    1) That on the morrow after the Passover Sabbath a sheaf of new corn should be waved by the priest before the altar (Lev.… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • first fruits — 1. the earliest fruit of the season. 2. the first product or result of anything. [1350 1400; ME] * * * first fruits UK US noun [plural] the first successful results of an activity Thesaurus: general words for results and outcomessynonym * * *… …   Useful english dictionary

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