FOREMOST
ADJECTIVES
► FIRST-BEST foremost; in first place → 1858 Amer. dial.
► FURTHERMOST foremost, first → 1400 obs.
► PRIME of a person or group of people: very important or powerful; foremost, leading, greatest → 1591
► PRIMER first in position, rank, or importance; chief, leading, foremost, premier → 1589 obs.
► UP FRONT foremost → 1950s sl.
ADVERBS
► NEEMEST foremost → Bk1905 Eng. dial.
NOUNS
► PRIMER the first, the foremost → 1596 obs.
VERBS
► BEAR THE BELL to take the first place; to have foremost rank or position, to be the best; to excel, to be pre-eminent → c1374
Lexicophilia 