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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. |
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Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others. |
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Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as,
Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. |
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Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank,
etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles. |
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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. |