Where does “first” come from?
first (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic frestą, from Proto-Germanic fres, from Proto-Indo-European pres-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
first (Old English): period, space of time, time, respite, truce
Definitions
- period, space of time, time, respite, truce
Ancestry of “first”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | frestą | an appointed time; date |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | fres | forward |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | pres- | to press |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |