initial
- of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
- Phonetics. occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.
- an initial letter, as of a word.
- the first letter of a proper name.
- 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.
- to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.
Origin of initial
Related Words for initialed
impress, seal, endorse, confirm, ink, subsidize, secure, finance, provide, bankroll, sponsor, approve, guarantee, buy, owe, negotiate, settle, undertake, agree, ingrainExamples from the Web for initialed
Historical Examples of initialed
Even his name was initialed on the outside of the briefcase.
ForeverRobert Sheckley
Five of the drawings are signed or initialed by Jackson, with dates from 1740 to 1753.
John Baptist JacksonJacob Kainen
She fell into the trap and said quickly that she knew no one initialed S.
The Curved BladesCarolyn Wells
Dr. Willoughby initialed the passport, and offered his hand.
The Star LordBoyd Ellanby
All six shells remained in my possession until I initialed them.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
initial
- of, at, or concerning the beginning
- the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
- printing a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
- botany a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell
- (tr) to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse
Word Origin for initial
Word Origin and History for initialed
initial
"to mark or sign with initials," 1864, American English, from initial (n.). Related: Initialed; initialing.
initial
"initial letter of a name or surname," 1620s, from initial (adj.) in a specialized sense "standing at the beginning of a word, sentence, etc."
initial
1520s, "of or pertaining to a beginning," from Middle French initial or directly from Latin initialis "initial, incipient," from initium "a beginning, an entrance," from past participle stem of inire "to go into, enter upon, begin," from in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + ire "to go" (see ion).