Quick Definition
πρωτεύω v. I have preeminence, am chief
Strong's Definition
to be first (in rank or influence)
Derivation: from G4413 (πρῶτος);
KJV Usage: have the preeminence
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | δευτερόπρωτος · πόρρω · πόρρωθεν · πορρώτερον · πρίν · πρό · πρωΐ · πρωΐα · πρωϊνός · πρῷρα · πρωτοκαθεδρία · πρωτοκλισία · πρῶτον · πρῶτος · πρωτοστάτης · πρωτοτόκια · πρωτότοκος · πρώτως · φιλοπρωτεύω
87.46 · Status · High Status or Rank [including persons of high status]
to be the first, to have superior status to be in the first position, with the implication of high rank and prominence
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πρωτεύω; (πρῶτος); to be first, hold the first place, [A. V. have the pre-eminence]: Col. i. 18. (From Xen. and Plat. down.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πρωτεύω prōteuō 1x
to be first, to hold the first rank or highest dignity, have the preeminence, be chief, Col. 1:18*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
πρωτεύω
(< πρῶτος), [in LXX: Es 5:11, II Mac 6:18 13:15*;]
to be first, pre-eminent, have the first place: Col 1:18.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πρωτεύω. This NT ἅπ. εἰρ. (Col 115) ‘‘hold the chief place,” ‘* am preeminent,’’ may be illustrated from P Lips I. 4o0%-16 (iv/v A.D.) ἀνὴρ ἀξιόπιστος ἐμαρτύρησεν πρωτεύων τῆς “Ἕρμουπολιτῶν, P Oxy XVI. 1983 (A.D. 535) εὐκλεεστάτῳ πατρικίῳ πρωτεύοντι, 16. VIII. 11068 (vi/A.D.) παρεγγύησον τοῖς πρωτεύουσιν ἀποσχέσθαι τοῦ τοιούτου τολμήματος, “cinstruct their leaders to abstain from any such outrage ”’ (Ed.), and Kazéel 4893 (iv/B.c.). With the use in Col /.c. we may compare Plut. A/or. p. 9 σπεύδοντες τοὺς παῖδας πρωτοκαθεδρία 55 ἐν πᾶσι τάχιον πρωτεῦσαι. A less pleasing sentiment is found in Menander /ragm. p. 140— οἶκος δ᾽ ἐν ᾧ τὰ πάντα πρωτεύει γυνή, οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις πώποτ᾽ οὐκ ἀπώλετο, “never does a house fail to come to grief, where woman takes the lead in everything:’’ For the similar form Sevrepevw (as in Esth 48) cf. P Passalacqua?® (iii/B.c.) (= Witkowski’, p. 54) περὶ Ilerovotpw τὸν Sevtepevovta : see P Par p. 405f. The subst. πρωτεῖον occurs in Aazbe? 560° (i/A.D.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πρωτεύω (prōteuō) — be first. πρωτεύω, (πρῶτος) to be the first, hold first place, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ πρωτεύοντες the primates or chief men in a city, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; hold position of πρῶτος (which see), [Refs]; π. τοῦ ἔθνους [Refs]
II. with a modal word added, to be first in a thing, καρτερίᾳ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν τούτοις (i.e. ἐπιτηδεύμασιν) [Refs]
II.2. with genitive person, to be first of or among, Ἑλλήνων [Refs]; τῶν ῥητόρων [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. ={προτερέω}, excel, π. τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος ταῖς κυνηγεσίαις [Refs 1st c.BC+]