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

  • first-name — adj. /ferrst naym /; v. /ferrst naym /, adj., v., first named, first naming. adj. 1. of or pertaining to one s first, or given, name; familiar; intimate: They were on a first name basis soon after meeting. v.t. 2. to address (someone) by his or… …   Universalium

  • first name — noun The first element of a full name. Address the students by their first name from the first day on. See Also: family name, last name, middle name, surname, nickname, given name, Christian name …   Wiktionary

  • First name alphabet — The First Name Alphabet is a widely used spelling alphabet in the United States in an effort to clarify which word has been said. Finance professionals frequently use the First Name Alphabet when spelling out stock tickers. Although many names… …   Wikipedia

  • first name — noun Date: 13th century the name that stands first in one s full name …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • first name. — See given name. [1200 50; ME] * * * …   Universalium

  • first-name — adjective noun …   Wiktionary

  • Serge (first name) — NOTOC Serge (pronEng|ˈsɝdʒ in English) is a male first name, particularly common in France, as Sérgio in Portugal, and as Sergio in Italy, Spain [ [http://www.albaiges.com/onomastica/enpe global.htm CUADRO DE LOS NOMBRES DE PILA MÁS IMPUESTOS EN… …   Wikipedia

  • Sorin (first name) — Sorin is a Romanian name origins from the substantive soare, which means Sun [cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/verner |title=View Name: Sorin |publisher=behindthename.com |accessdate=2007 01 13] Sorin is common as a given name but… …   Wikipedia

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