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

  1. period, space of time, time, respite, truce

Ancestry of “first”, step by step

first traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Germanic frestą

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicfrestąan appointed time; date
2Proto-Germanicfresforward
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpres-to press
4Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via Proto-Germanic fristiz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicfristizan appointed time; date

via Proto-Germanic frestaz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicfrestaz—

Words derived from “first”

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