first-quarter

The compound 'first-quarter' is a transparent combination of two ancient numerical concepts. 'First' originates from a Proto-Germanic superlative meaning "foremost," directly linked to the concept of being ahead in a sequence. 'Quarter' descends from the Latin quartus, meaning "fourth," which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root kʷetwer-, the source for the number four. When combined, these morphemes logically construct the meaning of the initial segment in a four-part division. This logical construction is applied to temporal, financial, and astronomical contexts, such as the first three months of a year or the lunar phase when the moon is half-illuminated and increasing.

Structure: first (ordinal) + quarter (fourth part) - first: From Old English fyrst, fyrest (foremost, earliest). An ordinal number derived from the same Germanic root as 'fore'. Its functional role is to specify position in a sequence. - quarter: From Old French quartier, from Latin quartarius (a fourth part), from quartus (fourth). Its functional role is to denote a division or part, specifically one of four equal parts.