Where does “first” come from?

first (Middle English) comes 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.

first (Middle English): first

Definitions

  1. first

Ancestry of “first”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishfyrstAlternative form of fierst; Alternative form of...
2Proto-Germanicfrestaz—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpres-to press
4Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “first”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →
first — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer