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BEG

BEG BAL

beg off

beg pardon

beg someone's pardon

beg the question

beg to differ

beg-pardon

beg.

Bega

began

begar

BEGAS

begat

begats

begem

begemmed

begemming

beget

begets

begetter

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be·gan

Audio Help [bi-gan] Pronunciation Key

–verb

pt. of begin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Began

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be·gin

Audio Help [bi-gin] Pronunciation Key verb, be·gan, be·gun, be·gin·ning.

–verb (used without object)

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.

–verb (used with object)

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.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME beginnen, OE beginnan, equiv. to be- be- + -ginnan to begin, perh. orig. to open, akin to yawn

]

—Synonyms 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.

—Antonyms 1. end.