commence

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English commencen, comencen (also as contracted comsen, cumsen), from Anglo-Norman comencer, from Vulgar Latin *cominitiāre, formed from Latin com- + initiō (whence English initiate). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American, Canada) IPA(key): /kəˈmɛns/ (Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /kəˈmens/ Rhymes: -ɛns === Verb === commence (third-person singular simple present commences, present participle commencing, simple past and past participle commenced) (intransitive) To begin, start. (transitive) To begin, start. (Appalachia, intransitive, with to) To begin or start. (transitive) To begin to be, or to act as. (UK, intransitive, dated) To take a degree at a university. ==== Synonyms ==== See Thesaurus:begin. ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “to begin”): (to stop) stop, end, cease (to finish) finish, conclude, complete ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== commencement ==== Translations ==== == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /kɔ.mɑ̃s/ === Verb === commence inflection of commencer: first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive second-person singular imperative == Louisiana Creole == === Etymology === From French commencer (“to commence”), compare Haitian Creole kòmanse. === Verb === commence to begin, commence === References === Alcée Fortier, Louisiana Folktales