Premieres

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The initial public screening or performance of a film, play, or other entertainment event
2. The debut presentation of a creative work to an audience for the first time
3. The first occasion on which a movie, show, or artistic piece is publicly displayed

Etymology: "Premieres" is the plural form of "premiere," a noun that also serves as a verb, so the plural covers both the noun sense (several opening nights) and the third-person verb form (a show that premieres). The noun itself comes from French "première," meaning "first," the feminine form of "premier," which traces back to Latin "primarius," from "primus," "first." The French word was adopted into English for the first performance of a play or film, and the sense of a debut for any creative work grew naturally from that. Theatre is where the usage took hold, so the "first night" idea remains the core of the word.

Synonyms: debuts, launches, introductions, unveilings, first showings

Antonyms: finales, conclusions, endings, wrap-ups, closes