Middle English Dictionary Entry
first- in compounds (n. & ppl.)
Entry Info
| Forms | first- in compounds (n. & ppl.) |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) first-born, -i)bore, ~ birth, firstborn (of man or beast); (b) ~ be)yete(n, ~ be)goten [transl. L primogenitus], firstborn; ~ be)getinge, primogeniture; (c) ~ gendred, first-born; (d) ~ kinned, firstborn.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)134.8 : Which smote þe first borne of Egipt.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 2.7 : Sche childide her firste born sone.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/a : Þe aungel þat slouȝ þe firste burþis.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)690 : Athelstone was Edwardys sone fyrst ybore.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.106/32 : Henry, my first boor sone.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)2336 : Abel of bestaile offring mas, of furst-born, to God almight.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)88.27 : Y shal sett hym frest biȝeten [L primogenitum] heȝe to-fore þe kynges of erþe.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)104.34 : He smote alle þe first biȝetynge of her londe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.104.36 : He smot alle the firste goten in the lond of hem.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)17/15 : In Egipt he slouȝ al þe first biȝete of man and beste.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.25.33 : Esau..soold the riȝtis of his first getyng.
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)95/2 : Þei gendride Caym, þe first geten.
- (?1426-7) Proc.Privy C.3.357 : Þerle of Crauford, the furstbegeten son of þerle of Dunbarre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)162 : Fyrste begoton: Primogenitus. Fyrste begetynge: Primogenitura.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)237 : A son of his firstbegotten in Ynglond was weddid there to the Kyngis doutir of Portingale.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.46a : Yf the said Acte made for youre seid first begoten son had never ben ordeyned.
c
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.25.31 : Sel me the ryȝtis of thi fyrst getyng [WB(2): the first gendrid childe].
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.41.51 : He clepide the name of the first gotun [WB(2): firste gendrid sone] Manasses.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.104.36 : He killide ech the firste gendrid thing in the lond of hem.
d
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)104.34 : He smate al firstkinned [L primogenitum] in land.