First
/fɜːrst/noun
The initial or earliest in a sequence.
Did you know?The Old English 'fyrst' was often associated with rites of passage, marking significant beginnings in life and status.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to lead, to go forward”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*furþiz
“the one who goes ahead”
Old English
OE
fyrst
“foremost, first in order or rank”
Middle English
ME
first
“primary, preceding all others”
Modern English
English
first
“the initial one in a series or sequence”