Begin

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: Beg=in

CIDE DICTIONARY

Begin, v. i. [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G. beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du-ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan. begynde); pref. be- + an assumed ginnan. Gin to begin.].

•  To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take rise; to commence.  [1913 Webster]

  "Vast chain of being! which from God began."  [1913 Webster]
•  To do the first act or the first part of an action; to enter upon or commence something new, as a new form or state of being, or course of action; to take the first step; to start.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

  "When I begin, I will also make an end."  [1913 Webster]

Begin, v. t. 

•  To enter on; to commence.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song."  [1913 Webster]
•  To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of.  [1913 Webster]

  "The apostle begins our knowledge in the creatures, which leads us to the knowledge of God."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To commence; originate; set about; start.

Begin, n. 

 Beginning.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Begin, v. (beginning; past began; past part. begun)
1 tr. perform the first part of; start (begin work; begin crying; begin to understand).
2 intr. come into being; arise: a in time (war began in 1939). b in space (Wales begins beyond the river).
3 tr. (usu. foll. by to + infin.) start at a certain time (then began to feel ill).
4 intr. be begun (the meeting will begin at 7).
5 intr. a start speaking ('No,' he began). b take the first step; be the first to do something (who wants to begin?).
6 intr. colloq. (usu. with neg.) show any attempt or likelihood (can't begin to compete).

Idiom

begin at start from. begin on (or upon) set to work at. begin school attend school for the first time. begin with take (a subject, task, etc.) first or as a starting-point. to begin with in the first place; as the first thing.

Etymology

OE beginnan f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Begin

arise, attack, blast away, blast off, broach, commence, create, dig in, dive in, embark, enter, enter on, enter upon, establish, fall to, found, get off, get to, go ahead, go into, head into, inaugurate, initiate, institute, introduce, jump off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, originate, pitch in, plunge into, prepare, send off, set about, set in, set out, set sail, set to, set up, spring, start, start in, start off, start out, tackle, take off, take up, turn to, usher in

ROGET THESAURUS

Begin

Beginning

VB begin, start, commence, conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter, set out, embark in, incept, initiate, launch, inaugurate, 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, found, set up, set on foot, agoing, set abroach, set the ball in motion, apply the match to a train, broach, open up, open the door to, 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, 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, begin again, begin de novo, start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.