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View synonyms for

initial

[ ih-nish-uhl ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first:

    the initial step in a process.

  2. Phonetics. occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.


noun

  1. an initial letter, as of a word.
  2. the first letter of a proper name.
  3. a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.

verb (used with object)

initialed, initialing or (especially British) initialled, initialling.
  1. to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.

initial

/ ɪˈɪʃə /

adjective

  1. of, at, or concerning the beginning
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
  2. printing a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
  3. botany a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈپ, adverb
  • ˈپ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ··پ· noun
  • ··پ· adverb
  • ···پ verb (used with object)
  • ܲ···پ verb (used with object) subinitialed subinitialing or (especially British) subinitialled subinitialling
  • ܲ···پ (especially British) ܲ···پ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of initial1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin Ծپ, equivalent to initi(um) “beginning” ( init-, noun derivative of ī “to enter, begin”; in- in- 2 + ī “to go”; comes ) + -ium -ium ) + -alis -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of initial1

C16: from Latin Ծپ of the beginning, from initium beginning, literally: an entering upon, from ī to go in, from in- ² + ī to go
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It is understood talks are aimed at agreeing an initial three-year deal, with the option of an extra 12 months.

From

Davenport said the union’s initial salary proposals could have cost the county billions of dollars.

From

Portugal's grid operator REN refuted initial reports, attributed to the agency on Monday, which said the blackout was caused by a rare atmospheric event.

From

The initial focus was to get the northern and southern power generating regions working again, which grid operator Red Eléctrica said was key to "gradually re-energising the transmission grid as the generating units are connected".

From

White House officials are hailing the milestone this week, proclaiming that, in his initial sprint, the president has already accomplished much of what he had promised.

From

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init.initialism