Webster's English Dictionary

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first

Cross references:
  1. number                 1. . first \'f*rst\ aj [ME, fr. OE fyrst; akin to OHG furist first, OE faran 
 
   to go] 2: preceding all others in time, order, or importance : as  2a: 
   EARLIEST  2b: being a type of grammatical declension or conjugation 
   conventionally p laced first 2c: being the lowest forward gear or speed in 
   an automotive vehicle  2d: highest or most prominent in carrying the melody 
   {~ violin} 
2. first av 1a: before another in time, space, or importance  1b: for the 
   first time  2: in preference to something else : SOONER 
3. first n 2: something that is first : as  2a: the first occurrence or 
   item of a kind  2b: the first gear or speed in an automotive vehicle  2c: 
   the highest or chief voice or instrument of a group  2d: an article of 
   commerce of the finest grade  2e: the winning place in a competition or 
   contest