A.to be the first, hold first place, And.4.41 (s.v.l.), Pl.Lg.692d, Arist.EN1124b23; οἱ πρωτεύοντες the primates or chief men in a city, Hdn.8.7.2, cf. Isoc.5.68; hold position of πρῶτος (q.v.), MAMA4.151 (Apollonia); “π. τοῦ ἔθνους” OGI563.6 (Cadyanda).
II. with a modal word added, to be first in a thing, “καρτερίᾳ” X.Ages.10.1; “βδελυρίᾳ” Aeschin.1.192; “γένει” Is.1.21; “ἐν ἕδρᾳ” X.Cyr.8.4.5; “περὶ κακίαν” Aeschin.2.159; “φιλίᾳ π. παρὰ τῷ Κύρῳ” X.Cyr.8.2.28, cf. Isoc.3.60; ἐν τούτοις (sc. ἐπιτηδεύμασιν) Id.7.48.