first

Everyday

1. First means before anything or anyone else: first in line. tree →
2. First means number one in order (1st): the first day. tree →
3. First can mean at the start, at the beginning: At first I was scared. tree →
4. «First» in a race means the winner. tree →
5. A first is something never done before: a first for our school. tree →
6. (casual) «Bagsy first!», «dibs on first», «me first!» claim the first turn; «first up» (Australia, NZ) means first of all. tree →
7. (rough) «First come, first served» and «you snooze, you lose» mean the slow get nothing. tree →
8. (formal) The exam voice says «initially», «in the first instance», «at the outset», «primarily», «prior to all else». tree →

In the lessons

the first step («First decide …»), or the first part of a story, which often gives the starting amount («First Mia had 6 stickers»); in maths ordinal numbers first, second, third (1st, 2nd, 3rd); in safety «first aid», «safety first»; in everyday life «first come, first served», «first thing in the morning», «at first sight»; in casual talk «me first!», «first up»; in the exam voice «initially», «at the outset», «in the first instance»

Examples

• First decide: are things coming together, or going away? tree →
• Read the whole problem first, then choose. tree →
• First Mia had 6 stickers, then she got 4 more. tree →
• Sara came first in the race. tree →
• My first tooth fell out today. tree →
• At first the puzzle seemed hard. tree →
• January is the first month of the year. tree →
• Wash your hands first, then eat. tree →
• We learned first aid at school. tree →
• me first! i called it! tree →
• First up, who's had brekkie? tree →
• Initially, Mia possessed 6 stickers; she subsequently acquired 4 additional stickers. Determine the final quantity. tree →
• At first I refused to go. tree →

Note

Orders the steps; «first» often gives the starting amount; «initially» and «at the outset» in an exam do the same. No operation clue by itself. Short form «1st». Order words: first, second, third, fourth. Trap: «the first 3 days» counts days 1, 2 and 3. «came first» is a place in a race, not an amount. In a story the first number is not always the start: read for «had», «at first», «initially».

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The Torah's first words, "In the beginning", began the long Jewish habit of treating what comes first, like first fruits and the firstborn, as belonging to God. In the primary lessons: the first step («First decide …»), or the first part of a story, which often gives the starting amount («First Mia had 6 stickers»); in maths ordinal numbers first, second, third (1st, 2nd, 3rd); in safety «first aid», «safety first»; in everyday life «first come, first served», «first thing in the morning», «at first sight»; in casual talk «me first!», «first up»; in the exam voice «initially», «at the outset», «in the first instance»

Examples

• And Jacob said: 'Sell me first thy birthright.' (Torah GEN.25.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.' — (Torah EXO.4.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. (Torah EXO.34.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Canaan begot Zidon his first-born, and Heth; (Writings 1CH.1.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Art thou the first man that was born? (Writings JOB.15.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the sons of Samuel: the first-born Vashni; then Abiah. (Writings 1CH.6.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Orders the steps; «first» often gives the starting amount; «initially» and «at the outset» in an exam do the same. No operation clue by itself. Short form «1st». Order words: first, second, third, fourth. Trap: «the first 3 days» counts days 1, 2 and 3. «came first» is a place in a race, not an amount. In a story the first number is not always the start: read for «had», «at first», «initially».