Definition of ab initio
: from the beginning
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ab initio was our Word of the Day on 10/17/2016. Hear the podcast!
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Starting Things With ab initio
We'll tell you right from the beginning where ab initio comes from. This adverb was adopted at the beginning of the 17th century directly from Latin, where it translates as "from the beginning." (Initio is a form of the noun initium, meaning "beginning," which gave rise to such English words as initial, initiate, and initiative.) Ab initio most frequently appears in legal contexts, but it is not surprising to find it used outside of the courtroom. The phrase is also used as an adjective meaning "starting from or based on first principles" (as in "predicted from ab initio calculations").
Origin and Etymology of ab initio
Latin ab initiō
Law Dictionary
legal Definition of ab initio
: from the beginning
- a contract found to be void ab initio
Origin and Etymology of ab initio
Latin
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See words that rhyme with ab initio Britannica English: Translation of ab initio for Arabic speakers
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