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Webster 1913 Edition


Commence

Com-mence′

(kŏm-mĕns′)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Commenced
(kŏm-mĕnst′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Commencing
.]
[F.
commencer
, OF.
comencier
, fr. L.
com-
+
initiare
to begin. See
Initiate
.]
1.
To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
Here the anthem doth
commence
.
Shakespeare
His heaven
commences
ere the world be past.
Goldsmith.
2.
To begin to be, or to act as.
[Archaic]
We
commence
judges ourselves.
Coleridge.
3.
To take a degree at a university.
[Eng.]
I question whether the formality of
commencing
was used in that age.
Fuller.

Com-mence′

,
Verb.
T.
To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.
Many a wooer doth
commence
his suit.
Shakespeare
☞ It is the practice of good writers to use the verbal noun (instead of the infinitive with to) after commence;
as, he
commenced studying
, not he
commenced to study
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Commence

COMMENCE

, v.i.
1.
To begin; to take rise or origin; to have first existence; as, a state of glory to commence after this life; this empire commenced at a late period.
2.
To begin to be, as in a change of character.
Let not learning too commence its foe.
3.
To take a degree or the first degree in a university or college.

COMMENCE

, v.t.
1.
To begin; to enter upon; to perform the first act; as, to commence operations.
2.
To begin; to originate; to bring; as, to commence a suit, action or process in law.

Definition 2024


commencé

commencé

See also: commence

French

Verb

commencé m (feminine singular commencée, masculine plural commencés, feminine plural commencées)

  1. past participle of commencer