1. (a.) Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.

2. (a.) Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.

3. (a.) Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.

4. (adv.) Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles.

5. (n.) The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.

ab initio ab ovo aborigine ahead alpha antecedent anterior anticipatory arch at first at the start banner basic before before everything beforehand beginning blue ribbon breaking-in by choice by election by vote capital cardinal central champion chief chiefly ci-devant commencement crowning dominant earlier earliest early elder elementary eminent essential exordial first and foremost first blush first glance first impression first inning first lap first move first place first round first sight first stage first step first thing firstly focal fore foregoing forehand foremost former forward from the beginning front frontal fundamental gambit great head heading headmost hegemonic highest in advance in front in preference in the beginning in the forefront in the foreground in the front in the lead inaugural inception initial initially initiative initiatory key le premier pas leading least magisterial maiden main mainly master measly older oldest opening opening move original originally outset outstanding overruling paramount pioneer precedent preceding precessional precurrent precursory predominant preeminent preexistent prefatory preferably preliminary preludial prelusive premier preparatory preponderant prevailing prevenient previous primal primarily primary prime primitiveness primitivity primo primogenial primordial principal principally prior pristine proemial propaedeutic ranking rather rather than ruling senior slight slightest slim smallest sooner sooner than sovereign star start stellar supereminent supreme to the fore to the front topflight trifling triumph trivial up ahead victory warming-up win