commencement

English

Etymology

French commencement.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

commencement (plural commencements)

1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.

   The time of Henry VII ... nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed modern history. -allam.

   1800, William Took, View of the Russian empire during the reign of Catharine the Second

   Yet from the commencement of mining there have been unnoble proprietors of mines, who belonged to the class of merchants.

2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.
3. A graduation ceremony, from a school, college or university.

Related terms

• commence

Coordinate terms

• (graduation ceremony): convocation

Translations

an act of commencing or beginning

Armenian: սկիզբ (hy) (skizb) Dutch: aanvang (nl) m.

Portuguese: começo (pt) m., início (pt) m. Spanish: inicio (es) m., incoación (es) f.

day degrees are conferred

graduation ceremony

Dutch: afsluitceremonie (nl) f.

Mandarin: 学位授予典礼 (cmn)

References

• commencement in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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French

Etymology

Old French comencement, corresponding to commencer +‎ -ment

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

commencement m. (plural commencements)

1. beginning, start

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Middle French

Etymology

Old French comencement, corresponding to commencer +‎ -ment

Noun

commencement m. (plural commencemens)

1. beginning, start