first fruit

Meanings

1. 1nounusually pluralreligion

   The earliest part of a harvest, traditionally offered to God or given as a gift in thanks.

   Grammar: Usually first fruits: the first fruits of the harvest.

   Patterns

   • first fruits of something
   • offer the first fruits

   Farmers once brought the first fruit of the harvest to the temple.

   The village offered its first fruits at the harvest festival.

   The first fruit from the orchard was shared with neighbors.

2. 2nounusually pluralliteraryfigurative

   The first results or rewards of an effort or project.

   Grammar: Usually followed by of: the first fruits of her research.

   Patterns

   • first fruits of something

   The first fruits of the reform became visible within a year.

   Her book was the first fruit of ten years of study.

   The new school is the first fruit of the community's fundraising.

Word forms

Common combinations

first fruits of the harvest

The first fruits of the harvest were blessed by the priest.

first fruits of labor

We saw the first fruits of our labor in spring.

offer the first fruits

They offered the first fruits at the altar.

first fruits of the reform

The first fruits of the reform came after two years.

enjoy the first fruits

We enjoyed the first fruits of the garden.

Synonyms and how they differ

firstfruits

Firstfruits is the single-word spelling and is the more common form in religious writing.

early results

Early results is the plain form for the figurative sense and is less poetic.

first yield

First yield is the farming term for the earliest crop and has no religious sense.

first harvest

First harvest is a time reference, while first fruits implies a gift or the reward of effort.

Opposites

Word family

fruit noun

the product of a plant, or a result

fruitful adjective

producing good results

fruition noun

the point where plans become real

firstfruits noun

the earliest harvest offered in thanks

Commonly confused: first fruit or first-rate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “first fruit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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