Firstborns

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The eldest child in a family, often regarded as having special status or responsibilities among siblings
2. A child who is the first to be born in a family, sometimes considered as a leader or role model for younger siblings
3. The individual who arrives first in the order of birth within a family, typically bearing expectations or privileges associated with that position

Etymology: "Firstborns" is simply the plural of "firstborn," so the history of the singular covers it. The noun comes from Middle English "first borne," a phrase made of "first," used as an adverb meaning "before all others," and "born," the past participle of "bear" in its sense of giving birth. Put together, the two words described whoever had been brought into the world before any sibling. Over time the two words fused into a single noun and adjective, and the compound was used both for the child and for the status that came with being first. Since the plural is just the regular form, "firstborns" refers to several such eldest children, typically in families or lineages where the eldest was expected to carry particular duties.

Synonyms: eldest, progeny, heir, first child, first issue

Antonyms: youngest, lastborn, later child, subsequent child, junior