Not the first to get fresh (3)

I believe the answer is:

new

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'fresh' is the definition.
('new' can be similar in meaning to 'fresh')

'not the first to' is the wordplay.
'the first' says to take the initial letters.
'to' becomes 'ew' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The initial letter of 'not' is 'n'.
'n'+'ew'='NEW'

'get' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for new that I've seen before include "Modern" , "Novel, recent" , "Unused or novel" , "Fresh, unused" , "Fresh, recent" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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