English
First
First comes from Yiddish פֿירשט ‘prince’, from Proto-Germanic *furi ‘before’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- ‘idem’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*preh₂-‘idem’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furi‘before’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furistazreconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*furistreconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050furisto‘prince’
- Middle High Germanc. 1050–1350vürste
- Yiddishmodernפֿירשטfirsht‘prince’
- EnglishtodayFirst
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*preh₂-‘idem’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furi‘before’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furistazreconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*furistreconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050furisto‘prince’
- Middle High Germanc. 1050–1350vürste
- Yiddishmodernפֿירשטfirsht‘prince’
- EnglishtodayFirst
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- ‘idem’
premier, prestigious, primer, prairie, preface, primate, prefix, primacy, precede, preeminent, prescient, parasol, parley, portobello, impregnate, 18 more
through Proto-Germanic *furi ‘before’
Today it means
name A surname.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- / First