first-rate
1First-rate — was the designation used by the Royal Navy for its largest ships of the line, those mounting 100 guns or more on three gundecks. [Bennett The Battle of Trafalgar , p. 19] First rate vessels carried over 800 crew and displaced in excess of 2,000… …
2First-rate — (f[ e]rst r[=a]t ), a. Of the highest excellence; pre[ e]minent in quality, size, or estimation. [1913 Webster] Our only first rate body of contemporary poetry is the German. M. Arnold. [1913 Webster] Hermocrates . . . a man of first rate ability …
3first-rate — adj. 1. of the highest quality; as, a first rate reporter. Syn: ace, A one, first class, super, tip top, topnotch, tops(predicate). [WordNet 1.5] …
4First-rate — n. (Naut.) A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class. [1913 Webster] …
5first-rate — I. adjective Date: 1671 of the first order of size, importance, or quality • first rateness noun • first rater noun II. adverb Date: 1844 very well < is getting along first rate, now Mark Twain > …
6First-rate — 1er rang 1er rang (first rate) est, entre le milieu du XVIIe siècle et le milieu du XIXe siècle, une dénomination utilisée par la Royal Navy pour classer un navires de guerre à voile ayant comme caractéristique principale un nombre de… …
7first rate — adjective superb, exceptional; of the best sort; very high quality A first rate restaurant should offer wonderful food with wonderful service …
8first-rate — /ferrst rayt /, adj. 1. excellent; superb. 2. of the highest rank, rate, or class. adv. 3. very well. [1660 70] * * * …
9first-rate — 1. noun A ship of the line in the British navy that had over 100 guns on three gun decks 2. adjective a) Describing a ship of the line in the British navy that had over 100 guns on three gundecks b) Exceptionally good …
10Rate — Rate, n. [OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to calculate. Cf. {Reason}.] 1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance. [1913 Webster] The one right feeble through the evil rate… …
