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

1. <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

Synonyms

earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, first, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virgin

Antonyms

final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate

Related Words

ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial; antecedent, preceding, previous

Near Antonyms

advanced, late; consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding; penultimate

Rhymes with INITIAL

altricial, comitial, judicial, official, simplicial, solstitial, surficial

²initial

noun

Definition 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

3

: anlage, precursor; specifically : a meristematic cell

Examples of INITIAL

1. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”
2. She put her initials on each page of the contract.
3. The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

First Known Use of INITIAL

1627

Rhymes with INITIAL

official

³initial

transitive verb

ini·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

1. She initialed each page of the contract.

First Known Use of INITIAL

circa 1864