/ kəˈmens; NAmE / verb
commence (with sth) ( formal ) to begin to happen; to begin sth :
[ v ]
The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon.
The day commenced with a welcome from the principal.
I will be on leave during the week commencing 15 February.
[ vn ]
She commenced her medical career in 1956.
[ v -ing ]
We commence building next week.
➡ note at start [also v to inf ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French commencier , comencier , based on Latin com- (expressing intensive force) + initiare begin.