Part 4329

<blockquote>See, Father, what <b>first fruits</b> on earth are sprung From thy implanted grace in man! <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

-- <col>First mate</col>, <cd>an officer in a merchant vessel next in rank to the captain.</cd> -- <col>First name</col>, <cd>same as <i>Christian name<i>. See under <er>Name</er>, <tt>n.</tt></cd> -- <col>First officer</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>in the merchant service, same as <i>First mate<i> (above).</cd> -- <col>First sergeant</col> <fld>(Mil.)</fld>, <cd>the ranking non-commissioned officer in a company; the orderly sergeant.</cd> <i>Farrow.</i> -- <col>First watch</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>the watch from eight to twelve at midnight; also, the men on duty during that time.</cd> -- <col>First water</col>, <cd>the highest quality or purest luster; -- said of gems, especially of diamond and pearls.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Primary; primordial; primitive; primeval; pristine; highest; chief; principal; foremost.</syn>

<h1>First</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles.</def>

<blockquote>Adam was <b>first</b> formed, then Eve. <i>1 Tim. ii. 13.</i></blockquote>

<cs> <mcol><col>At first</col>, <col>At the first</col></mcol>, <cd>at the beginning or origin.</cd> -- <col>First or last</col>, <cd>at one time or another; at the beginning or end.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>And all are fools and lovers <b>first or last</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<h1>First</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a pre\'89minence in the combined effect.</def>

<h1>Firstborn</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First"born`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>First brought forth; first in the order of nativity; eldest; hence, most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.</def>

<h1>First-class</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First"-class`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Of the best class; of the highest rank; in the first division; of the best quality; first-rate; <as>as, a <ex>first-class</ex> telescope</as>.</def>

<cs><mcol><col>First-class car</col> &or; <col>First-class railway carriage</col></mcol>, <cd>any passenger car of the highest regular class, and intended for passengers who pay the highest regular rate; -- distinguished from a <i>second-class car<i>.</cd></cs>

<h1>First-hand</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First"-hand`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Obtained directly from the first or original source; hence, without the intervention of an agent.</def>

<blockquote>One sphere there is . . . where the apprehension of him is <b>first-hand</b> and direct; and that is the sphere of our own mind. <i>J. Martineau.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Firstling</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First"ling</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>First</ets> + <ets>-ling</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The first produce or offspring; -- said of animals, especially domestic animals; <as>as, the <ex>firstlings</ex> of his flock</as>.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The thing first thought or done.</def>

<blockquote>The very <b>firstlings</b> of my heart shall be The <b>firstlings</b> of my hand. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Firstling</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First"ling</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Firstborn.</def>

<blockquote>All the <b>firstling</b> males. <i>Deut. xv. 19.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Firstly</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>First"ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In the first place; before anything else; -- sometimes improperly used for <i>first</i>.</def>