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View synonyms for initial

initial

[ ih-nish-uhl ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first:

    the initial step in a process.

  2. Phonetics. occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.


noun

  1. an initial letter, as of a word.
  2. the first letter of a proper name.
  3. a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.

verb (used with object)

, in·i·tialed, in·i·tial·ing or (especially British) in·i·tialled, in·i·tial·ling.
  1. to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.

initial

/ ɪˈnɪʃəl /

adjective

  1. of, at, or concerning the beginning


noun

  1. the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
  2. printing a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
  3. botany a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell

verb

  1. tr to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse

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Derived Forms

  • inˈitially, adverb
  • inˈitialer, noun

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Other Words From

  • in·i·tial·er noun
  • in·i·tial·ly adverb
  • pre·in·i·tial verb (used with object)
  • sub·in·i·tial verb (used with object) subinitialed subinitialing or (especially British) subinitialled subinitialling
  • un·in·i·tialed (especially British) un·in·i·tialled adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of initial1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin initiālis, equivalent to initi(um) “beginning” ( init-, noun derivative of inīre “to enter, begin”; in- in- 2 + īre “to go”; comes ) + -ium -ium ) + -alis -al 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of initial1

C16: from Latin initiālis of the beginning, from initium beginning, literally: an entering upon, from inīre to go in, from in- ² + īre to go

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