/ ɪˈnɪʃl; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] happening at the beginning; first :
an initial payment of £60 and ten instalments of £25
in the initial stages (= at the beginning) of the campaign
My initial reaction was to decline the offer.
■ noun
1.
[ C ] the first letter of a person's first name :
'What initial is it, Mrs Owen?' 'It's J, J for Jane.'
2.
initials [ pl. ] the first letters of all of a person's names :
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was often known by his initials JFK.
Just write your initials.
■ verb
( -ll- , NAmE usually -l- ) [ vn ] to mark or sign sth with your initials :
Please initial each page and sign in the space provided.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from Latin initialis , from initium beginning, from inire go in, from in- into + ire go.