#66. Beginning.-- N. beginning, commencement, opening, outset, incipience, inception, inchoation[obs]; introduction &c. (precursor) 64; alpha, initial; inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation[Fr], rising of the curtain; maiden speech; outbreak, onset, brunt; initiative, move, first move; narrow end of the wedge, thin end of the wedge; fresh start, new departure.
origin &c. (cause) 153; source, rise; bud, germ &c. 153; egg, rudiment; genesis, primogenesis[obs], birth, nativity, cradle, infancy; start, inception, creation, starting point &c. 293; dawn &c. (morning) 125; evolution.
title-page; head, heading; van &c. (front) 234; caption, fatihah[obs].
entrance, entry; inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon[obs], door; gate, gateway; postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule; propylaeum[obs]; skirts, border &c. (edge) 231.
first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight.
rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABCE.
V. begin, start, commence; conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter; set out &c. (depart) 293; embark in; incept[obs].
[transitive] initiate, launch, inaugurate.
[intransitive] inchoate, rise, arise, originate.
usher in; lead off, lead the way; take the lead, take the initiative; head; stand at the head, stand first, stand for; lay the foundations &c. (prepare) 673; found &c. (cause) 153; set up, set on foot, agoing[obs], set abroach[obs], set the ball in motion; apply the match to a train; broach; open up, open the door to.
[intransitive] get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to; make a beginning, make a start.
handsel; take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf; break ground, break the ice, break cover; pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon; open fire, open the ball; ventilate, air; undertake &c. 676.
come into existence, come into the world; make one's debut, take birth; burst forth, break out; spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize.
begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo[Lat].
begin again, begin de novo; start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.
Adj. beginning &c. v.; initial, initiatory, initiative; inceptive, introductory, incipient; proemial[obs], inaugural; inchoate, inchoative[obs]; embryonic, rudimental; primogenial[obs]; primeval, primitive, primordial &c. (old) 124; aboriginal; natal, nascent.
first, foremost, leading; maiden.
begun &c. v.; just begun &c. v.
Adv. at the beginning, in the beginning, &c. n.; first, in the first place, imprimis[Lat], first and foremost; in limine[Lat]; in the bud, in embryo, in its infancy; from the beginning, from its birth; ab initio[Lat], ab ovo[Lat], ab incunabilis[Lat], ab origine[Lat].
Phr. let's get going! let's get this show on the road! up and at 'em! aller Anfang ist schwer [Ger]; dimidium facti qui coepit habet [Lat][Cicero]; omnium rerum principia parva sunt [Lat][Cicero].