From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe firstthe firstthe first person to do something, or the first thing to happen There are now many similar housing projects but this was the first. We hope this year’s festival will be the first of many.the first to do something I always thought my sister would be the first to get married. James was the first to arrive. → firstthe Firstthe Firstspoken used after the name of a king, queen, or pope when other later ones have the same name Queen Elizabeth the First (=written as Queen Elizabeth I) → first
