phr., a. (adv.), and sb.
A. As phrase and adj.
1. First rate: the highest of the ‘rates’ (see RATE sb.) by which vessels of war are distinguished according to size and equipment. In phrase of (the) first rate, also from an early date used transf. (now rare; superseded by the attributive use 2).
1666. Lond. Gaz., No. 65/2. Twelve new Ships, all of the first Rate.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, I. iii. Now has he ruined his estate to buy a title, that he may be a fool of the first rate.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, III. iii. His natural parts were not of the first-rate, but he had greatly improved them by a learned education.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. Aug., 230/1. He having struggled hard with Crib and other boxers of first-rate.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., ii. Ere Folly had thrown her ballast overboard, and cut down her vessels of the first-rate.
2. attrib. (passing into adj.) First-rate: of the first rate (said of vessels); hence gen. Of the highest class or degree of excellence.
1671. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 66. They might be curbed by a few of his Majesty’s first-rate frigates, to spoil their trade with the islands.
1684. J. Lacy, Sir H. Buffoon, II. iv. There are your first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-rate Wits too.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1729), II. 149. What a Noble as well as Beautiful, what a glorious Machine is a First-Rate Man of War, when she is under Sail, well rigg’d, and well mann’d!
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 11. Euph. I never saw a first-rate Picture in my Life, but have a tolerable Collection of Prints, and have seen some good Drawings.
1853. Bright, Sp. India, 3 June. The question is one, as the right hon. Gentleman has said, of first-rate importance.
1868. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 5. One would be able to see no hope of quiet in Europe as long as France remained a first-rate power.
3. Hence used as an emphatic expression of praise or approval: Extremely good, excellent.
1812. Knox & Jebb, Corr., II. 90. Worthington was a first-rate christian; but I think he was not a first-rate divine.
1879. F. W. Robinson, Coward Conscience, II. ix. ‘Miss Hilderbrandt is first-rate, and no mistake.’
4. quasi-adv. (colloq.) Excellently, very well. Also, in excellent health, quite well.
1844. W. T. Thompson, Major Jones’ Courtship, 168. Mary liked ’em all first rate, except one feller who spoke last.
1857. Borthwick, Three Yrs. California, xii. 211. As if you really wanted to know the state of their health, they [Indians] invariably answer ‘fuss-rate.’
1880. Howells, Undisc. Country, iv. 79. I want to go away to-morrow feeling first-rate.
1884. D. Pae, Eustace, 15. ‘Dod, sir, my claes fit ye first-rate.’
B. sb.
1. Naut. A war vessel of the first rate; used esp. of the old three-deckers carrying 74 to 120 guns.
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. lxii. (1737), 254. In spight of all the Winds that blow from the 32 Points of the Compass, will in the midst of a Hurricane make you the biggest First Rate remain stock still, as if she were becalm’d.
1790. Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., I. 72. She was larger than any of our first rates; her guns of an uncommon size; and most of them of brass.
1825. Bentham, Ration. Rew., 76. The command of a first-rate is accepted by those only who cannot obtain a frigate.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, cliv.
| Some slight bark’s sails to bellying, mauled and marred | |
| And forced to put about the First-rate! |
2. transf. A person or thing of the highest class or rank.
a. 1683. Oldham, Horace his Art of Poetry.
| Hence Poets have been held a sacred Name, | |
| And plac’d with first Rates in the Lists of Fame. |
1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, III. ii. She [a woman] is called the Melinda, a first-rate, I can assure you.
1781. Cowper, Lett. to Newton, 22 July. Our great wheelbarrow, which may be called a first rate in its kind, conveyed all our stores.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., II. xi. 274. In the House, these leaders of party were both first-rates, and it is curious to observe how minds of such calibre can exercise themselves with equal force, in mutual depreciation, till, in the illusion of their jealousy, they persuade themselves that they really feel that contempt for each other, which their style infers.
Hence First-rately adv.; First-rateness, the state of being first-rate, first-rate quality; First-rater, one who or something which is first-rate.
1806. Sporting Mag., XXVII. Feb., 243/2. Pugilists, who may be deservedly titled first raters in their profession.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xli. ‘He must be a first-rater,’ said Sam.
1843. Blackw. Mag., LIV. Dec., 713/2. Of all instruments the violin, first-rately played, is the most—yes, we will say it—heavenly.
1882. Pall Mall G., 19 June, 5/1. The note of first-rateness, of permanence, is hardly here.
