beginning

plural beginnings · alternative obsolete begynnynge

1. uncountableThe act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.

   Synonyms: commencing, start, starting, genesis

2. countableuncountableThat which is begun; a rudiment or element.

   Synonyms: element, embryo, rudiment

3. countableuncountableThat which begins or originates something; the source or first cause.

   What was the beginning of the dispute?

   Synonyms: origin, source, start, commencement

4. countableuncountableThe initial portion of some extended thing.

   That house is at the beginning of the street.

   4 more examples

   The author describes the main character’s youth at the beginning of the story.

   To mark this absolutism of change over the works of man is both pleasing and profitable, for what is more emotional than to observe the hoarness, the mellowness, and the natural final decay of objects whose beginnings date almost from the immemorial […] ?

   1871, The Antiquary, volumes 1-2, page 13

   Basic skills are introduced at this time, such as the use of context or meaning clues and the beginning sounds of words.

   1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 25

   “Is anything the matter?” Lady Lindstrom asked anxiously. “No,” Megan told her. “I’m merely trying to decide where the beginning is.” “Perhaps at the beginning,” the Chief Constable prompted, rather stupidly, Megan thought. “Which beginning?” she asked.

   1975, Frances Keinzley, The Cottage at Chapelyard, page 179

   Synonyms: head, start, morning

alternative obsolete begynnynge

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of begin

   He is beginning to read a new book.

   1 more example

   The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o’clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers’ barrows the evening only seemed beginning; and the naphtha flares made one’s eyes ache, the men’s voices grated harshly, and the girls’ faces saddened one.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

alternative obsolete begynnynge

1. informalnot comparableBeing the first portion of some extended thing.

   in the beginning section of the course

   1 more example

   in the beginning paragraph of the chapter

   Synonyms: first, initial