Where does “First” come from?
First (English) comes from Middle English first, from Old English fyrst, from Proto-Germanic frestaz, from Proto-Indo-European pres-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
Ancestry of “First”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | first | — |
| 2 | Old English | fyrst | Alternative form of fierst; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | frestaz | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pres- | to press |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |