Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective First in order of birth; born first.
- noun The child in a family who is born first.
from The Century Dictionary.
- First brought forth; first in the order of birth; eldest: as, the first-born son.
- Hence Most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.
- noun The first-born child; hence, the first result or product.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The first child born to a parent.
- adjective First brought forth; first in the order of birth; eldest; hence, most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The first
child to be born to a parent or family. - adjective Born as the first one in a family, flock or the like.
- adjective Most
excellent ; mostdistinguished orexalted .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the offspring who came first in the order of birth
- adjective first in order of birth
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Although in the Revelation by St. John the Theologian it is written that Jesus was the firstborn from the world of the dead (Revelation 1: 5), the resurrection of Jesus is neither the only, nor the first Biblical resurrection.
Global Voices in English » Serbia: Thoughts on Doubt and Faith 2009
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Because of that, as St. John the Theologian wrote, Christ was the firstborn from the dead.
Global Voices in English » Serbia: Thoughts on Doubt and Faith 2009
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For the Father of the universe has caused him to spring up as the eldest son, whom, in another passage, he calls the firstborn; and he who is thus born, imitating the ways of his Father, has formed such and such species humankind, looking to his archetypal patterns.
HANDS Across the Godhead? James F. McGrath 2010
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The lot of the firstborn is not necessarily to be envied.
The Promised Land 1912
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And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721
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20Interrogating this question as well as developing research on the potential early meaning of the ways of naming children who came after the firstborn is not only intriguing, it is important.
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My poor firstborn is where I struggle because I’m always learning the stage he’s in for the first time.
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[Had I remembered that the firstborn were to be consecrated as priests or other religious functionaries before they were replaced by the Levites, I could have also mentioned that Jesus, as God’s firstborn, is our great high priest.]
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[Had I remembered that the firstborn were to be consecrated as priests or other religious functionaries before they were replaced by the Levites, I could have also mentioned that Jesus, as God’s firstborn, is our great high priest.]
Archive 2007-01-01 2007
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Getting my mother involved in the caring of my firstborn was the best thing I ever did for myself, my baby and my marriage.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms Jack Canfield 2011
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