begin

begin
begin [bē gin′, bigin′]
vi.
began, begun, beginning [ME biginnen < OE beginnan; akin to Ger beginnen, Goth duginnan]
1. to start doing, acting, going, etc.; get under way
2. to come into being; arise
3. to have a first part or element [the Bible begins with Genesis]
4. to be or do in the slightest degree: used with an infinitive [they don't begin to compare]
vt.
1. to cause to start; set about; commence
2. to cause to come into being; originate
3. to be the first part or element of
——————
to begin with
as the first point or consideration
SYN.- BEGIN, the most general of these terms, indicates merely a setting into motion of some action, process, or course [to begin eating ]; COMMENCE, the more formal term, is used with reference to a ceremony or an elaborate course of action [to commence a court action ]; START carries the particular implication of leaving a point of departure in any kind of progression [to start a journey, the boulder started a landslide ]; INITIATE, in this connection, refers to the carrying out of the first steps in some course or process, with no indication of what is to follow [to initiate peace talks ]; INAUGURATE suggests a formal or ceremonial beginning or opening [to inaugurate a new library ] –ANT. END2, FINISH, CONCLUDE

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • BEGIN (M.) — BEGIN MENAHEM (1913 1992) Sixième Premier ministre de l’État d’Israël, Menahem Begin est né à Brest Litovsk le 16 août 1913. La ville que les juifs appelaient Brisk, aujourd’hui biélorusse, était alors polonaise. Durant toute sa vie, Begin est… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Begin — may refer to:in people: *Benny Begin (born 1943), Israeli politician *Floyd Lawrence Begin (1902 1977), American Roman Catholic bishop *Johanne Bégin (born 1971), Canadian water polo player *Joseph Damase Bégin (1900 1977), Canadian politician… …   Wikipedia

  • Bégin — Localisation de Bégin dans la MRC Le Fjord du Saguenay Administration Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • begin — begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate are comparable when they mean to set something going or in progress or to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. Begin, commence, and start are also used intransitively with the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • begin — (v.) O.E. beginnan to begin, attempt, undertake, a rare word beside the more usual form onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, pp. ongunnen); from bi (see BE (Cf. be )) + W.Gmc. *ginnan, of obscure meaning and found only in compounds …   Etymology dictionary

  • Begin — bezeichnet: Menachem Begin israelischer Politiker Begin (Band), eine japanische Rockband Bégin, einen Familiennamen Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bégin — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Louis Nazaire Bégin (1840–1925), Erzbischof von Québec René Bégin (* 1912), kanadischer Politiker (Liberal Party) Steve Bégin (* 1977), kanadischer Eishockeyspieler Diese Seite ist …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Begin — Be*gin , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Began}, {Begun}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beginning}.] [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G. beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan. begynde); pref. be + an assumed ginnan. [root]31. See {Gin} to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • begin — ► VERB (beginning; past began; past part. begun) 1) perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity). 2) come into being. 3) have as its starting point. 4) (begin on/upon) set to work on. 5 …   English terms dictionary

  • Begin — Be*gin , v. t. 1. To enter on; to commence. [1913 Webster] Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of. [1913 Webster] The apostle begins our knowledge in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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