first-degree
Least severe burn
First-degree indicates the most serious category in a graded system.
A first-degree burn is the mildest, affecting only the outer skin, while first-degree murder is the most severe—premeditated and intentional.
The apparent contradiction reflects different scaling conventions: burns count up from least serious, crimes down from most.
She was charged with first-degree assault.
Planned before acting
- homicideCausing another's death
- intentionalDone on purpose
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- felonySerious criminal offense
prosecution · conviction · indictment · sentencing · defendant · arraignment · verdict · jury
UV-induced skin inflammation
- scaldBurn with hot liquid
- epidermisOutermost tissue layer
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- rednessCrimson-hued state
minor · thermal · skin · peeling · tenderness · swelling · irritation · inflammation
Arranged in straight succession
- equationMathematical equality assertion
- variableProne to fluctuation
- coefficientNumber multiplying a variable
- constantFixed, unvarying quantity
slope · intercept · graph · algebra · function · expression · term · exponent
First university degree
- undergraduateDegree-seeking college student
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
- BSFalsehoods, or science degree
college · university · commencement · major · minor · credits · coursework · transcript
premeditated
Planned before acting
- homicideCausing another's death
- intentionalDone on purpose
- maliceIntent to cause harm
felony · prosecution · conviction · indictment · sentencing · defendant · arraignment · verdict · jury · capital
sunburn
UV-induced skin inflammation
- scaldBurn with hot liquid
- epidermisOutermost tissue layer
- superficialLacking depth or substance
redness · minor · thermal · skin · peeling · tenderness · swelling · irritation · inflammation · discomfort
linear
Arranged in straight succession
- equationMathematical equality assertion
- variableProne to fluctuation
- coefficientNumber multiplying a variable
constant · slope · intercept · graph · algebra · function · expression · term · exponent · mathematics
bachelor's
First university degree
- undergraduateDegree-seeking college student
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
BS · college · university · commencement · major · minor · credits · coursework · transcript · honors
relative
Connected by blood
mother · father · son · daughter · brother · sister · immediate · bloodline · lineage · hereditary
first-degreethird-degree
Harsh, prolonged questioning
second-degree · fourth-degree · involuntary manslaughter · manslaughter · unpremeditated
first-degreeinnocent
Free from moral wrong
not guilty · acquitted · exonerated · cleared · uncharged