𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃

From Proto-Germanic *frumistaz and cognate to Old English fyrmest, whence English foremost. By surface analysis, 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌰 (fruma, “former”) +‎ -𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (-ists, “superlative suffix”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈfru.mists/

𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 • (frumists)

1. superlative degree of 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌰 (fruma)

   Antonym: 𐌰𐍆𐍄𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (aftumists)

   2. first (preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest) (used of the first of more than two, or of an unspecified number)
      • 4th Century, Wulfila (tr.), Gothic Bible: Gospel of Luke (Codex Argenteus) 19.16:^[1]

        𐌵𐌰𐌼 𐌸𐌰𐌽 𐍃𐌰 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌰 𐌵𐌹𐌸𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍃: 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌾𐌰, 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍄𐍄𐍃 𐌸𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 𐌲𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌷𐍄𐌰 𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌷𐌿𐌽 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍄𐍄𐌰𐌽𐍃.

        qam þan sa frumista qiþands: frauja, skatts þeins gawaurhta taihun skattans.

        Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. (KJV)

      • 4th Century, Wulfila (tr.), Gothic Bible: Second Epistle to Timothy (Codex Ambrosianus B) 2.6:^[2]

        𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍃 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌸𐍉𐍃 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃𐍄𐍅𐌾𐌰 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌻 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄 𐌰𐌺𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌴 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽.

        arbaidjands airþōs waurstwja skal frumist akranē andniman.

        The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. (KJV).

   3. first (most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest)
      • 4th Century, Wulfila (tr.), Gothic Bible: Gospel of Mark (Codex Argenteus) 10.44:^[3]

        𐌾𐌰𐌷 𐍃𐌰𐌴𐌹 𐍅𐌹𐌻𐌹 𐌹𐌶𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌰 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌸𐌰𐌽 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃, 𐍃𐌹𐌾𐌰𐌹 𐌰𐌻𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌼 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌻𐌺𐍃.

        jah saei wili izwara wairþan frumists, sijai allaim skalks.

        And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. (KJV).

• 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌹 (frumisti, “beginning”)

• Lehmann, Winfred P. (1986) “F99. fruma”, in A Gothic Etymological Dictionary, based on the 3rd ed. of Feist’s dictionary, Leiden: E. J. Brill, pages 129–130
• Streitberg, Wilhelm (1910). Die gotische Bibel. Zweiter Teil: Gotisch-griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch. Heidelberg: Carl Winter’s Universitätsbuchhandlung, p. 39