incipit

American  

[in-si-pit, ing-ki-pit] / ˈɪn sɪ pɪt, ˈɪŋ kɪ pɪt /

noun

1. the introductory words or opening phrases in the text of a medieval manuscript or an early printed book.

2. Music. the first words of a chanted liturgical text, as that of a Gregorian chant or certain medieval motets.

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incipit British  

/ ˈɪnkɪpɪt /

1. here begins: used as an introductory word at the beginning of some medieval manuscripts

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Etymology

Origin of incipit

1895–1900; < Latin: (here) begins, 3rd-person singular present of incipere

Example Sentences

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

Incipiendum esse primum decennium a die constitutionis summi Pontificis Sixti V. quae incipit "Romanus Pontifex".

From The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, June 1865 by Various

C�terum pars ea qu� Spongi� cautibus adh�rent est tanquam folii petiolus, � quo veluti collum quoddam gracile incipit: quod deinde in latitudinem diffusum capitis globum facit.

From Micrographia Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses with Observations and Inquiries Thereupon by Hooke, Robert

Omine quo firmans animum sic incipit ipsa: Est in Carpathio Neptuni gurgite vates caeruleus Proteus, magnum qui piscibus aequor et iuncto bipedum curru metitur equorum.

From Readings from Latin Verse With Notes by Bushnell, Curtis C.