begin

begin
/bi gin"/, v., began, begun, beginning.
v.i.
1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start: The story begins with their marriage.
2. to come into existence; arise; originate: The custom began during the Civil War.
v.t.
3. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action): Begin the job tomorrow.
4. to originate; be the originator of: civic leaders who began the reform movement.
5. to succeed to the slightest extent in (fol. by an infinitive): The money won't even begin to cover expenses.
[bef. 1000; ME beginnen, OE beginnan, equiv. to be- BE- + -ginnan to begin, perh. orig. to open, akin to YAWN]
Syn. 3. BEGIN, COMMENCE, INITIATE, START (when followed by noun or gerund) refer to setting into motion or progress something that continues for some time. BEGIN is the common term: to begin knitting a sweater. COMMENCE is a more formal word, often suggesting a more prolonged or elaborate beginning: to commence proceedings in court. INITIATE implies an active and often ingenious first act in a new field: to initiate a new procedure. START means to make a first move or to set out on a course of action: to start paving a street. 4. institute, inaugurate, initiate.
Ant. 1. end.

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  • begin — begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate are comparable when they mean to set something going or in progress or to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. Begin, commence, and start are also used intransitively with the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • begin — (v.) O.E. beginnan to begin, attempt, undertake, a rare word beside the more usual form onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, pp. ongunnen); from bi (see BE (Cf. be )) + W.Gmc. *ginnan, of obscure meaning and found only in compounds …   Etymology dictionary

  • begin — [bē gin′, bigin′] vi. began, begun, beginning [ME biginnen < OE beginnan; akin to Ger beginnen, Goth duginnan] 1. to start doing, acting, going, etc.; get under way 2. to come into being; arise 3. to have a first part or element [the Bible… …   English World dictionary

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  • Begin — Be*gin , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Began}, {Begun}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beginning}.] [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G. beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan. begynde); pref. be + an assumed ginnan. [root]31. See {Gin} to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • begin — ► VERB (beginning; past began; past part. begun) 1) perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity). 2) come into being. 3) have as its starting point. 4) (begin on/upon) set to work on. 5 …   English terms dictionary

  • Begin — Be*gin , v. t. 1. To enter on; to commence. [1913 Webster] Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of. [1913 Webster] The apostle begins our knowledge in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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