incipit
Americannoun
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the introductory words or opening phrases in the text of a medieval manuscript or an early printed book.
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Music. the first words of a chanted liturgical text, as that of a Gregorian chant or certain medieval motets.
Etymology
Origin of incipit
1895–1900; < Latin: (here) begins, 3rd-person singular present of incipere
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Next to the name of the weaver’s apprentice were three ominous words: “Hic incipit pestis.”
From Slate • Mar. 10, 2020
The impressive piece, ready to be installed at Newcastle upon Tyne's Castle Keep, is a modern tribute to the incipit of St John's Gospel in principio erat Verbum - "in the beginning was the Word."
From BBC • Aug. 7, 2013
Ora te pr anima Christofori Slee Prioris qui primus hoc opus fieri incipit A.D.
From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Carlisle A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Episcopal See by Eley, C. King
Hic apparet in bona altitudine polus Antarcticus, et incipit modò apparere in alta Lybia, ita quod in alta Æthiopia eleuatur octodecim gradibus, prout ipse prohaui Astrolabio.
From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 08 Asia, Part I by Hakluyt, Richard
At cum verbum a consonante incipit, d perdit, ut haut dudum, et haut multum, et haut placitura refert, et inducit t.
From The Roman Pronunciation of Latin Why we use it and how to use it by Lord, Frances Ellen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
