Nearby Words
Synonyms

initially

[ih-nish-uhl] Example Sentences Origin

in·i·tial

[ih-nish-uhl] adjective, noun, verb, -tialed, -tial·ing or (especially British) -tialled, -tial·ling.
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.

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Initially is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
verb (used with object)
6.
to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.

Origin:
1520–30; < Latin initiālis, equivalent to initi(um) beginning (init-, noun derivative of inīre to enter, begin; in- in-2 + īre to go; compare comes) + -ium -ium) + -alis -al1

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), -tialed, -tial·ing or (especially British) -tialled, -tial·ling.
un·in·i·tialed, adjective
EXPAND
un·in·i·tialled, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To initially
Example Sentences
  • And even less has come from those who believed in the revolution and initially stayed behind.
  • The new bachelor's degrees were initially focused on education, health care, and information technology.
  • Rapid growth is initially easy because the leader has already trodden a clear path.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
initial (ɪˈnɪʃəl)
 
adj
1.  of, at, or concerning the beginning
 
n
2.  the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
3.  printing a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
4.  botany a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell
 
vb , -tials, -tialling, -tialled, -tials, -tialing, -tialed
5.  (tr) to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse
 
[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]
 
in'itialer
 
n
 
in'itialler
 
n
 
in'itially
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

initial
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,
EXPAND
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.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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