incipit

I1N1C3I1P3I1T1
/ˈɪnsɪpɪt/

noun

The first few words of a text, especially its first line.

Opposite
explicit
OriginLatin incipit →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounincipit (plural incipits)

plural incipits

  1. The first few words of a text, especially its first line.

    Antonyms: explicit

  2. entertainmentThe first few bars of a piece of music.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe first few words of a text, especially its first line.

Opposite
explicit

Origin

  1. Latinincipit
  2. Latinincipit
  3. Englishincipit

Borrowed from Latin incipit (“it begins”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

incipit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incipit

MLA

“incipit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incipit. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “incipit,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incipit.

Source: incipit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.