Foremost \Fore"most`\, a. [OE. formest first, AS. formest, fyrmest, superl. of forma first, which is a superl. fr. fore fore; cf. Goth. frumist, fruma, first. See Fore, adv., and cf. First, Former, Frame, v. t., Prime, a.]

First in time or place; most advanced; chief in rank or dignity; as, the foremost troops of an army.

THat struck the foremost man of all this world. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)