initial English · revision 3911

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1526|origins=la eō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈnɪʃ.ᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|initial]] or directly [[der|la|initiālis|t=initial, of the beginning]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|initium|t=a beginning, an entrance]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the noun use of the neuter past participle of [[m|la|inīre|t=to go into, enter upon, begin]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|in-|t=into]] and [[m|la|īre|t=to go]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*ei-|t=to go]],^(Etymonline) the root also of Sanskrit éti and Greek eîmi “goes, go”.^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[initiate]], [[initiative]] and [[exit]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or pertaining to a beginning: 1526 in the OED and Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the 1520s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Standing at the beginning of a word or paragraph” is from 1622,^(OED 1989) the 1620s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) which led to the noun, the first letter of a name, in 1627 according to Barnhart and Merriam-Webster.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The verb, to mark or sign with initials, is from 1837 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1864, American English, in Barnhart and the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) In mathematics ''initial conditions'' are from 1834,^(OED 1989) and the ''initial teaching alphabet'', a 44-letter phonetic alphabet, from 1962.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1526 – of a beginning.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1622 – standing at the beginning of a word.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1627 – noun, the first letter of a name.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1834 – ''initial conditions''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – verb, to sign with initials.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1962 – ''initial teaching alphabet''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or occurring at the beginning; first.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a letter, standing at the beginning of a word.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The first letter of a name, or ''initials'', the first letters of a person's names.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A large, often decorated letter at the beginning of a chapter or [[manuscript]] section.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To mark or sign with one's initials, as a sign of [[approval]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[initially]]

+ * [[initialness]]

+ * [[initialer]]

+ * [[preinitial]]

+ * [[initialism]]

+ * [[initial teaching alphabet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[initiate]]

+ * [[initiation]]

+ * [[initiative]]

+ * [[initialize]]

+ * [[exit]]

+ * [[itinerary]]

+ * [[commence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}