1481, from O.Fr. recommencer (11c.), from re- "back, again" + commencer (see commence).
commence
1314, from O.Fr. comencier, from V.L. *cominitiare, orig. "to initiate as priest, consecrate," from L. com- "together" + initiare "to initiate." The academic sense of commencement "action of taking a full degree," is in M.E.