The word "first" is spelled with the letters f-i-r-s-t. In IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription, it is pronounced /fɜːrst/, with the "f" sound being produced by the lips pressing together, the "ɜː" being a relaxed version of the "u" sound in "cute", the "r" being a post-alveolar liquid, the "s" being a voiceless alveolar fricative, and the "t" being produced by the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, followed by a burst of air.
First is an adjective that refers to the initial or initial-born aspect of something, or the initial occurrence or event in a sequence, process, or series of events. It represents the foremost or leading position in terms of time, order, rank, importance, or significance. It signifies being the earliest, the earliest known, or the earliest possible in a particular context.
In chronological terms, first can denote the most recent or earliest moment in time, indicating the start or commencement of a particular endeavor, movement, era, or historical period. It can also describe the earliest moment or earliest known record of existence for an object, idea, or concept. Additionally, first can indicate the beginning or opening in a series, such as the primary installment or debut of a book, movie, or album.
When used in a ranking or hierarchical context, first signifies the highest or topmost position, indicating superiority or preeminence over other elements or individuals in a group, list, competition, or task. It may also relate to being the original or founding member of a group, the creator of an innovation, or the pioneer of a field.
Furthermore, first can convey the idea of being the most important or significant, highlighting its distinguished or principal status among other things or persons. It often implies prominence, excellence, or distinction, reflecting a notable or outstanding achievement, performance, or accomplishment.
As an adverb, first describes the action of being before anything or anyone else, indicating priority, preference, or precedence in terms of both time and order. It is often used to signify an action occurring initially or at the beginning of a series of actions or events.
• Earliest in time; foremost; chief; principal; primary; the ordinal of one.
• Before anything else.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "first" originated from the Old English word "fyrst", which is believed to have derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*furisto" or "*frumatizo". This Proto-Germanic term is also related to the Old High German word "furst", meaning "foremost" or "first". Furthermore, both the Old English and Proto-Germanic words are believed to have derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*per-", which means "forward" or "beyond". The word "first" has maintained a similar form and meaning throughout its development in various languages.