commence
[kuh-mens]
- to begin; start.
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Origin of commence
Synonyms
See more synonyms for commence on Thesaurus.comoriginate, inaugurate.
Synonym study
See begin.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for commencing
Contemporary Examples
The month is commencing with a bang as the government shuts down after failing to pass a budget to fund the government.
Historical Examples
Add the gelatine, which by this time should be commencing to solidify.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
I was just commencing a picture which interested me very much.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
In the Coupeau household the vitriol of l'Assommoir was also commencing its ravages.
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
I trust that you will not put me to the pain of commencing now.
The Trampling of the LiliesRafael Sabatini
“Just now,” he answered, rising and commencing again the nervous pacing.
The BondwomanMarah Ellis Ryan
commence
- to start or begin; come or cause to come into being, operation, etc
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for commencing
commence
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper