premiere English · revision 7262

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1889|origins=fr première}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹɛmjɛə/ ''(UK)''; /pɹəˈmɪɚ/, /pɹɪ-/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|première]], short for “première représentation”, first performance, the feminine of [[m|fr|premier|t=first]] (see [[premier]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first public performance of a play: 1889, in Frank Leslie's correspondence.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to present a first performance, is recorded from 1925 in Etymonline, 1940 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It is used of films, television programmes and musical works as well as plays.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) The leading actress of a company was also called a première.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1889 – a first performance.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1940 – the verb, in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The first public performance of a play, film or musical work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give the first public performance of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[premier]]

+ * [[prime]]

+ * [[primary]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It is also spelled première, with the French accent.^(SOED 2002)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}