/bi gin"/ , v. , began, begun, beginning .
v.i.
1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start: The story begins with their marriage.
2. to come into existence; arise; originate: The custom began during the Civil War.
v.t.
3. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of (some action): Begin the job tomorrow.
4. to originate; be the originator of: civic leaders who began the reform movement.
5. to succeed to the slightest extent in (fol. by an infinitive): The money won't even begin to cover expenses.
[ bef. 1000; ME beginnen, OE beginnan, equiv. to be- BE- + -ginnan to begin, perh. orig. to open, akin to YAWN ]
Syn. 3. BEGIN, COMMENCE, INITIATE, START (when followed by noun or gerund) refer to setting into motion or progress something that continues for some time. BEGIN is the common term: to begin knitting a sweater. COMMENCE is a more formal word, often suggesting a more prolonged or elaborate beginning: to commence proceedings in court. INITIATE implies an active and often ingenious first act in a new field: to initiate a new procedure. START means to make a first move or to set out on a course of action: to start paving a street. 4. institute, inaugurate, initiate.
Ant. 1. end.