frist

frist · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*pres-
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*fristiz
3. Old English · inherited fromfierst“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”
4. Middle English · inherited from*frist
5. English todayfrist

From Middle English *frist, frest, first, furst, from Old English fierst (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic *fristiz, *frestą (“date, appointed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *pres-, *per- (“forward, forth, over, beyond”). Cognate with North Frisian ferst, frest (“period, time”), German Frist (“period, deadline, term”), Swedish frist (“deadline, respite, reprieve, time-limit”), Icelandic frestur (“period”). See also first.

frist · verb²

1. Old English · inherited from*fyrstan“to defer, delay, put off”
2. Middle English · inherited from*fristen
3. English todayfrist

From Middle English *fristen, frysten, fresten, firsten, from Old English *fyrstan (“to defer, delay, put off”), from fyrst, fierst, first (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”). See Etymology 1. Cognate with Low German versten, German fristen (“to eke out”), Danish friste (“to sustain, support, experience, tempt”), Icelandic fresta (“to delay”).

Words from the same roots