commence

[kuh-mens]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR commence ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with or without object), com·menced, com·menc·ing.

to begin; start.

Origin of commence

1250–1300; Middle English commencen < Anglo-French, Middle French comencer < Vulgar Latin *cominitiāre, equivalent to Latin com- com- + initiāre to begin; see initiate

Related formscom·mence·a·ble, adjectivecom·menc·er, nounre·com·mence, verb, re·com·menced, re·com·menc·ing.un·com·menced, adjectivewell-com·menced, adjective

Synonyms for commence

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR commence ON THESAURUS.COM

originate, inaugurate.

Synonym study

See begin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for commencing

initiate, begin, inaugurate, launch, originate, open, arise

Examples from the Web for commencing

Contemporary Examples of commencing

The month is commencing with a bang as the government shuts down after failing to pass a budget to fund the government.
Washington Drama Makes October a Confusing Month for Investors
William O’Connor
October 1, 2013

Historical Examples of commencing

Add the gelatine, which by this time should be commencing to solidify.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
I was just commencing a picture which interested me very much.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
In the Coupeau household the vitriol of l'Assommoir was also commencing its ravages.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
I trust that you will not put me to the pain of commencing now.
The Trampling of the Lilies
Rafael Sabatini
“Just now,” he answered, rising and commencing again the nervous pacing.
The Bondwoman
Marah Ellis Ryan

British Dictionary definitions for commencing

commence

verb

to start or begin; come or cause to come into being, operation, etc

Derived Formscommencer, noun

Word Origin for commence

C14: from Old French comencer, from Vulgar Latin cominitiāre (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + initiāre to begin, from initium a beginning

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for commencing

commence

c.1300, from Old French comencier "to begin, start" (10c., Modern French commencer), from Vulgar Latin *cominitiare, originally "to initiate as priest, consecrate," from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + initiare "to initiate," from initium (see initial (adj.)). Spelling with double -m- began in French and was established in English by 1500. Related: Commenced; commencing.