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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 , 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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Other Word Forms

  • initialer noun
  • initially adverb
  • preinitial verb (used with object)
  • subinitial verb (used with object)
  • uninitialed adjective
  • ˈپ adverb
  • ˈپ noun
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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.

"His initial response was 'game on,' and I don't consider war to be a game," Paul said.

From

The couple were rescued from the flat about 25 minutes after making the initial emergency call.

From

The global oil price rose sharply on Friday following the initial attacks by Israel and Iran's subsequent response.

From

The state prosecutor's initial assessment was that the boy, called Quentin, came from a normal functioning family, and had no criminal or mental health record.

From

He said he believed the initial assessment of Dighton was correct.

From

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init.initialism