beforehand; first; earlier; at first; originally; for the time being; for now; (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)

first of all; in the first place

sophisticated; advanced (technology etc); meritorious; exemplary (deeds etc)

in advance; before the event; beforehand; prior

to lead; to be in front

ancestors; forebears; (biology) ancestral species; ancient species from which present-day species evolved

a person of foresight; (religion) a prophet

to have priority; to take precedence

before; previously

(the) very first

originally; original; former

(loanword) shilling

beforehand; in advance

vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde

precedent

to leave first (courteous expression used to excuse oneself); (euphemism) to predecease; to die first (e.g. before one's spouse)

to rush (to do sth urgent); to try to be the first; to forestall

previously; before

at first; in the beginning

to start off before the others; to precede; to proceed in advance

to take the lead; to show initiative

to pioneer; pioneer; trailblazer

(idiom) to gain the initiative by striking first; to preempt

early or late; first and last; priority; in succession; one after another

Ladies first!

ancestor; forefather; sb's late father

(idiom) strike first to gain the upper hand

critical opportunity

embryonic period (contrasted with 後天|后天[hou4 tian1]); inborn; innate; natural

(literary) my deceased grandfather; (literary) ancestors

former sovereigns

foresight; prescience

the quick-footed climb up first (idiom); the early bird catches the worm; first come, first served

(computing) priority level; (computing) precedence (of operators)

prior; preexisting

Mr Goody-goody; yes-man (sb who agrees with anything)

to compete to be first; to contest first place

(dialect) before; in the past; previously

former ruler; founding ruler

omen

(literary) my late father

prerequisite; necessary

to take preemptive action; (sports) to be in the starting lineup; (of a baseball pitcher) to be the starting pitcher

my late father; my ancestors; the late emperor

the wise and learned individuals of the past

herald; precursor; harbinger

(usu. of troops) in advance; in the vanguard; previously; in front; placed ahead of others

(literary) my late mother

to introduce sb, putting in a good word for them in advance