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initial

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in⋅i⋅tial

  [i-nish-uhl] adjective, noun, verb, -tialed, -tial⋅ing or (especially British) -tialled, -tial⋅ling.
Use initial in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of, pertaining 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
3. an initial letter, as of a word.
4. the first letter of a proper name.
5. 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)
6. to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, esp. as a token of preliminary or informal approval.
Origin:
1520–30; < L initiālis, equiv. to initi(um) beginning (init-, n. deriv. of inīre to enter, begin; in- in- 2 + īre to go; cf. comes ) + -ium -ium ) + -alis -al 1

Related forms:
in⋅i⋅tial⋅er, noun
in⋅i⋅tial⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·i·tial   (ĭ-nĭsh'əl)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first: took the initial step toward peace.

  2. Designating the first letter or letters of a word.

n.  

    1. The first letter of a proper name.

    2. initials The first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit: stationery monogrammed with her initials.

  2. The first letter of a word.

  3. A large, often highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter, verse, or paragraph.

tr.v.   in·i·tialed also in·i·tialled, in·i·tial·ing also in·i·tial·ling, in·i·tials also in·i·tials
To mark or sign with initials, especially for purposes of authorization or approval.

[Latin initiālis, from initium, beginning; see ei- in Indo-European roots.]
in·i'tial·ly adv., in·i'tial·ness n.
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

initial  (adj.)
1526, "of or pertaining to a beginning," from L. initialis "initial, incipient," from initium "a beginning, an entrance," from pp. stem of inire "to go into, enter upon, begin," from in- "into, in" + ire "to go" (see ion). Meaning "standing at the beginning of a word, sentence, etc." (1622) led to noun sense of "initial letter of a name or surname" (1627). The verb meaning "to mark or sign with initials" is from 1864.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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