incipience, inception, inchoation†; 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†, 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†.
entrance, entry; inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch,
portal, portico, propylon†, door; gate, gateway; postern, wicket,
threshold, vestibule; propylaeum†; skirts, border &c (edge) 231.
first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first
sight.
rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABC.
V. begin, start, commence; conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise,
enter upon, enter; set out &c (depart) 293; 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 &c (prepare) 673; found &c (cause) 153; 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 &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†, inaugural; inchoate, inchoative†;
embryonic, rudimental; primogenial†; 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 [G.], dimidium facti qui coepit habet
[Lat.] [Cicero]; omnium rerum principia parva sunt [Lat.] [Cicero].