initial
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From French, from Latin initialis (“of the beginning, incipient, initial”), from initium (“a going in, entrance, beginning”), from inire (“to go in, enter upon, begin”), from in (“in”) + ire (“to go”).
[edit] Pronunciation
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Audio (US) (file)
[edit] Adjective
initial (not comparable)
- Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin
- Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods
- The initial stages of a syndrome may differ vastly from the final symptoms
- Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning
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Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position
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[edit] Noun
initial (plural initials)
- The first letter of a word or a name.
- In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit
- You can get your initials printed at the top.
- (typography, calligraphy) A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
first letter of a word
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first letters of a person's name as a unit
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[edit] Verb
initial (third-person singular simple present initials, present participle initialing or initialling, simple past and past participle initialed or initialled)
- (transitive) To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
- Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.
[edit] Translations
to sign one's initial(s)
[edit] See also
[edit] Related terms
[edit] External links
- initial in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- initial in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- initial at OneLook Dictionary Search
[edit] French
[edit] Etymology
From Latin initialis, from initium 'beginning'
[edit] Adjective
initial m. (f. initiale, m. plural initials, f. plural initiales)
