firstly

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   In the first place; before anything else; first.

   Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants. […] Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study of a limited suite of collections, rather than superficial study of every packet that comes to hand.

2. 2
   adv

   before anything else

Etymology

Coined before 1475, from Middle English fyrst-lyk, equivalent to first + -ly.