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A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.

The commencement; the first period. The childhood of our joy. Shak. Second childhood, the state of being feeble and incapable from old age.

The first stage of epidemic cholera.

Quality; brand; as, silk of the first chop.

A foot consisting of four syllables, of which the first and last are long, and the other short (- ~ ~ -); that is, a choreus, or trochee, and an iambus united.

A band of singers and dancers. The Grecian tragedy was at first nothing but a chorus of singers. Dryden.

To use for the first time. [Colloq.]

utward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ. The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts xi. 26.

, which was intended to commence with the birth of Christ. The era as now established was first used by Dionysius Exiguus (died about 540), who placed the birth of Christ on the 25th of December in the year of Rome 754, which year he counted as 1 a. d. This date for Christ's birth is now generally thought to be about f…

he characteristics of Circe, daughter of Sol and Perseis, a mythological enchantress, who first charmed her victims and then changed them to the forms of beasts; pleasing, but noxious; as, a Circean draught.

e entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim. We must know how the first ruler, from whom any one claims, came by his authority. Locke.

Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art. Give, as thy last memorial to the age, One classic drama, and reform the stage. Byron. Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject [Roman weights and coins]. Arbuthnot.

, n., 4. -- Clear days (Law.), days reckoned from one day to another, excluding both the first and last day; as, from Sunday to Sunday there are six clear days. -- Clear stuff, boards, planks, etc., free from knots.

the same figure, and of the color of the field, so large that only a narrow border of the first bearing remains visible; -- said of any heraldic bearing. Compare Voided.

To set closely together; to close tightly; as, to clinch the teeth or the first. Swift.

asure before a legislative body. It is similar in effect to the previous question. It was first introduced into the British House of Commons in 1882. The French word clôture was originally applied to this proceeding.

A little cloud. R. Browning. Eve's first star through fleecy cloudlet peeping. Coleridge.

A first-class passenger car, as distinguished from a drawing- room car, sleeping car, etc. It is sometimes loosely applied to any passenger car.

one of the side at the bat posted near first or third base to direct a base runner.

The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. [Obs.] He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. Shak.