fierst

Old English

Alternative forms

• first, fyrst

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *fristaz, *fristą. Cognate with Middle Dutch verst, Old High German frist (German Frist), Old Norse frest (Swedish frist).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fi͜yrst/, [fi͜yrˠst]

Noun

fierst m or f

1. time (especially time granted for doing something)
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Lord's Prayer"

     God lǣt him fierst þæt hē his māndǣda ġeswīce.

     God gives him time to stop his misdeeds.

   • c. 994, Ælfric, De Anno (On the Year)

     Sōðlīċe ðǣs mōnan ġēar hæfð seofon ⁊ twentiġ daga ⁊ eahta tīda. On ðām fyrste hē underyrnð ealle ðā twelf tācna, þe sēo sunne undergǣð twelf mōnað.

     Truly, the moon's year has twenty-seven days and eight hours. In that time, it passes beneath all twelve signs [of the zodiac], which the sun passes under in twelve months.

2. threshold, ceiling, inner roof (declined as fem.)
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Palm Sunday. On The Lord's Passion"

     Efne ðā tōbserst þæs temples wāhryft, fram ðǣre fyrste ufan ōð ðā flōr neoðan,...

     Lo then the temple's veil burst asunder, from the summit above down to the floor beneath,...

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	fierst	fierstas
accusative	fierst	fierstas
genitive	fierstes	fiersta
dative	fierste	fierstum