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 verb1: to have or make a beginning : start <the meeting will commence soon>2chiefly British : to take a degree at a university

synonyms see begin

— com·menc·er noun