Where does “firstness” come from?
firstness (English) comes from English First, 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.
firstness (English): The quality of being first; originality; priority
Definitions
- The quality of being first; originality; priority
Ancestry of “firstness”, step by step
firstness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English First
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | First | Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest |
| 2 | Middle English | first | first |
| 3 | Old English | fyrst | Alternative form of fierst; Alternative form of... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | frestaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pres- | to press |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |