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beginning

 - 5 dictionary results

be⋅gin⋅ning

  [bi-gin-ing]
Use beginning in a Sentence
–noun
1. an act or circumstance of entering upon an action or state: the beginning of hostilities.
2. the point of time or space at which anything begins: the beginning of the Christian era; the beginning of the route.
3. the first part: the beginning of the book; the beginning of the month.
4. Often, beginnings. the initial stage or part of anything: the beginnings of science.
5. origin; source; first cause: A misunderstanding about the rent was the beginning of their quarrel.
–adjective
6. just formed: a beginning company.
7. first; opening: the beginning chapters of a book.
8. basic or introductory: beginning Spanish.
9. learning the fundamentals: a beginning swimmer.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME beginnung, -ing. See begin, -ing 1

Synonyms:
1. initiation, inauguration, inception. 2. start, commencement, outset, onset, arising, emergence.

Antonyms:
1. ending. 2. end.

be⋅gin

  [bi-gin] 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To beginning
be·gin   (bĭ-gĭn')   
v.   be·gan (-gān'), be·gun (-gŭn'), be·gin·ning, be·gins

v.   intr.

  1. To take the first step in performing an action; start.

  2. To come into being: when life began.

  3. To do or accomplish in the least degree: Those measures do not even begin to address the problem.

v.   tr.

  1. To take the first step in doing; start: began work.

  2. To cause to come into being; originate.

  3. To come first in: The numeral 1 begins the sequence.


[Middle English biginnen, from Old English beginnan.]
Synonyms: These verbs denote coming into being or taking the first step, as in a procedure. Begin, commence, and start are equivalent in meaning, though commence is more formal, and start often stresses the point where inaction turns to action: The play begins at eight o'clock. The festivities commenced with the national anthem. We will stay on the platform until the train starts.
Initiate applies to causing the first steps in a process: I initiated a lawsuit against the driver who hit my car.
Inaugurate often connotes a formal beginning: "The exhibition inaugurated a new era of cultural relations" (Serge Schmemann).
be·gin·ning   (bĭ-gĭn'ĭng)   
n.  

  1. The act or process of bringing or being brought into being; a start.

  2. The time when something begins or is begun: the beginning of the war.

  3. The place where something begins or is begun: at the beginning of the road.

  4. A source; an origin: What was the beginning of the dispute?

  5. The first part: The front matter is at the beginning of the book.

  6. An early or rudimentary phase. Often used in the plural: the beginnings of human life on this planet.

Synonyms: These nouns denote the initial stage of a developmental process: the beginning of a new era in technology; the birth of generative grammar; the dawn of civilization; the genesis of quantum mechanics; the nascence of classical sculpture; the rise and decline of an ancient city-state.
Antonym: end
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

begin 
O.E. beginnan, also onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, pp. ongunnen), from bi- "be" + W.Gmc. *ginnan, of obscure meaning, found only in compounds, perhaps "to open, open up" (cf. O.H.G. in-ginnan "to cut open, open up," also "begin, undertake"). Meaning "beginner, novice" is from 1470.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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