Main Entry: com·mence

Pronunciation: \kə-ˈmen(t)s\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): com·menced; com·menc·ing

Etymology: Middle English comencen, from Anglo-French comencer, from Vulgar Latin *cominitiare, from Latin com- + Late Latin initiare to begin, from Latin, to initiate

Date: 14th century

transitive verb : to enter upon : begin <commence proceedings>intransitive verb 1 : to have or make a beginning : start <the meeting will commence soon>
2 chiefly British : to take a degree at a university

synonyms see begin

— com·menc·er noun