first (senses 3 (i) and 3 (ii), although really distinct, cannot always be separated)
1.
in heraldry
“the ”=the colour
first mentioned in blazoning a coat of arms (fig.)
MND. III. ii. 213
“Two of the †,
like coats in heraldry”
(old edd. “ life”).
2.
(one's) “,” the beginning or outset (of one's
period of life, action, &c.)
Tim. I. i. 119
“from my ,”
Mac. V. ii. 11
“their of
manhood,”
Ham. II. ii. 61
“Upon our ,”
Lr. V. iii. 290
“your of difference and
decay.”
3.
at first, also “at the ” in senses (i)
and (ii):
i.
at
the outset, in the first stage, on the first
occasion, (hence) originally Gent. II. vi. 9,
III. i. 95, Wint. I. ii. 336,
1H6 II. i. 51,
IV. i. 121
“let it rest where
it began at ,”
R3 V. iii. 311,
Ham. II. ii. 192
“he knew me not at
,”
Oth. II. iii. 361;
also “at and last,”
from beginning to end 1H6 V. v. 102,
Mac. III. iv. 1;
“since at ,”
ever since, from the time when Err. II. ii. 5,
Sonn. lix. 8;
ii.
from the
beginning, directly, at once
Mer.V. IV. i. 68
“Every offence is
not a hate at ,”
Shr. V. ii. 68
“To come at
when he doth send for her,”
Cym. I. iv. 117,
II. v. 15, Ven. 250, Sonn. xc. 12;
iii.
before others
Cor. I. i. 137
“True is it . . .
That I receive the general food at
first.”
