ordinal number
- coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.
▸before doing something else.
- foremost in position, rank, or importance.
▸Brit. a place in the top grade in an examination for a degree.
- for the first time.
▸informal something never previously occurring or done.
- with a specified part or person in a leading position:
the car plunged nose first into the river.
- Music performing the highest or chief of two or more parts for the same instrument or voice.
Phrase
Etymology
OE fyr(e)st; of Gmc origin.