initial
1ini·tial
adjective \i-ˈni-shəl\Definition of INITIAL
1
: of or relating to the beginning : incipient <his initial reaction>
2
: placed at the beginning : first <the initial word of the verse>
— ini·tial·ly \i-ˈni-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb
— ini·tial·ness \i-ˈni-shəl-nəs\ noun
Examples of INITIAL
- <you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question>
Origin of INITIAL
Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French iniciel, from Latin initialis, from initium beginning, from inire to go into, from in- + ire to go — more at issue
First Known Use: 1526
Related to INITIAL
Rhymes with INITIAL
2initial
nounDefinition of INITIAL
1
a : the first letter of a name b plural : the first letter of each word in a full name <found that their initials were identical>
2
: a large letter beginning a text or a division or paragraph
Examples of INITIAL
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”
- She put her initials on each page of the contract.
- The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
First Known Use of INITIAL
1627
Rhymes with INITIAL
3initial
transitive verbini·tialed or ini·tialledini·tial·ing or ini·tial·ling \i-ˈni-sh(ə-)liŋ\
Definition of INITIAL
1
: to affix an initial to
2
: to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative
Examples of INITIAL
- She initialed each page of the contract.
First Known Use of INITIAL
circa 1864
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