3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Commence \Com*mence"\, v. t.
To enter upon to begin; to perform the first act of
Many a wooer doth commence his suit. --Shak.
Note: It is the practice of good writers to use the verbal
noun (instead of the infinitive with to) after
commence; as he commenced studying, not he commenced
to study.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Commence \Com*mence"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Commenced}; p. pr &
vb n. {Commencing}.] [F. commencer, OF comencier fr L.
com- + initiare to begin. See {Initiate}.]
1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start to
begin.
Here the anthem doth commence. --Shak.
His heaven commences ere the world be past.
--Goldsmith.
2. To begin to be or to act as [Archaic]
We commence judges ourselves --Coleridge.
3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.]
I question whether the formality of commencing was
used in that age. --Fuller.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
commence
v 1: take the first step or steps in carrying out an action: "We
began working at dawn"; "Who will start?" "Get working
as soon as the sun rises!" [syn: {begin}, {get}, {start
out}, {start}, {set about}, {set out}] [ant: {end}]
2: set in motion, cause to start "The U.S. started a war in
the Middle East"; "The Iraquis began hostilities"; "begin
a new chapter in your life" [syn: {begin}, {lead off}, {start}]
[ant: {end}]
3: get off the ground; "Who started this company?" "We embarked
on an exciting enterprise" [syn: {start}, {start up}, {begin},
{embark on}]
more about commence
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