- begin
- verb
(began; begun; beginning)
Etymology: Middle English beginnen, from Old English beginnan; akin to Old High German biginnan to begin, Old English onginnan
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. to do the first part of an action ; go into the first part of a process ; start
2.
a. to come into existence ; arise
b. to have a starting point
3. to do or succeed in the least degree <I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am> transitive verb 1. to set about the activity of ; start 2. a. to bring into being ; found b. originate, invent Synonyms: begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. begin opposed to end, is the most general <begin a trip> <began dancing>. start opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages <the work started slowly>. commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start <commence firing> <commenced a conversation>. initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue <initiated diplomatic contacts>. inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance <>. usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate <ushered in a period of economic decline>.
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
См. также в других словарях:
BEGIN (M.) — BEGIN MENAHEM (1913 1992) Sixième Premier ministre de l’État d’Israël, Menahem Begin est né à Brest Litovsk le 16 août 1913. La ville que les juifs appelaient Brisk, aujourd’hui biélorusse, était alors polonaise. Durant toute sa vie, Begin est… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Begin — may refer to:in people: *Benny Begin (born 1943), Israeli politician *Floyd Lawrence Begin (1902 1977), American Roman Catholic bishop *Johanne Bégin (born 1971), Canadian water polo player *Joseph Damase Bégin (1900 1977), Canadian politician… … Wikipedia
Bégin — Localisation de Bégin dans la MRC Le Fjord du Saguenay Administration Pays … Wikipédia en Français
begin — begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate are comparable when they mean to set something going or in progress or to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. Begin, commence, and start are also used intransitively with the… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
begin — (v.) O.E. beginnan to begin, attempt, undertake, a rare word beside the more usual form onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, pp. ongunnen); from bi (see BE (Cf. be )) + W.Gmc. *ginnan, of obscure meaning and found only in compounds … Etymology dictionary
begin — [bē gin′, bigin′] vi. began, begun, beginning [ME biginnen < OE beginnan; akin to Ger beginnen, Goth duginnan] 1. to start doing, acting, going, etc.; get under way 2. to come into being; arise 3. to have a first part or element [the Bible… … English World dictionary
Begin — bezeichnet: Menachem Begin israelischer Politiker Begin (Band), eine japanische Rockband Bégin, einen Familiennamen Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben … Deutsch Wikipedia
Bégin — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Louis Nazaire Bégin (1840–1925), Erzbischof von Québec René Bégin (* 1912), kanadischer Politiker (Liberal Party) Steve Bégin (* 1977), kanadischer Eishockeyspieler Diese Seite ist … Deutsch Wikipedia
Begin — Be*gin , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Began}, {Begun}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beginning}.] [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G. beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan. begynde); pref. be + an assumed ginnan. [root]31. See {Gin} to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
begin — ► VERB (beginning; past began; past part. begun) 1) perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity). 2) come into being. 3) have as its starting point. 4) (begin on/upon) set to work on. 5 … English terms dictionary
Begin — Be*gin , v. t. 1. To enter on; to commence. [1913 Webster] Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of. [1913 Webster] The apostle begins our knowledge in the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
