[ˈfɔːmə(ʊ)st], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- most prominent in rank, importance, or position
(e.g: one of the foremost art collectors of his day)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English formest, fyrmest, from forma ‘first’ (ultimately a superlative formed from the Germanic base of fore)+ -est. Compare with first and former. The current spelling arose by association with fore and most

[ˈfɔːmə(ʊ)st], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- before anything else in rank, importance, or position; in the first place
(e.g: it was, foremost, the first unequivocal demonstration of the process)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English formest, fyrmest, from forma ‘first’ (ultimately a superlative formed from the Germanic base of fore)+ -est. Compare with first and former. The current spelling arose by association with fore and most