has particulars: jumping-off point, point of departure, springboard, activation, attack, tone-beginning, constitution, establishment, formation, organisation, organization, debut, entry, first appearance, introduction, launching, unveiling, face-off, first step, initiative, opening, opening move, groundbreaking, groundbreaking ceremony, housing start, icebreaker, inauguration, startup, creation, foundation, founding, initiation, innovation, instauration, institution, introduction, origination, installation, installing, installment, instalment, jump ball, kickoff, recommencement, resumption, scrum, scrummage, startup, creation

Derived forms verb commence₁, verb commence₂, verb commence₃

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CIDE DICTIONARY

commencement, n. [F. commencement.].

The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start. [1913 Webster]
"The time of Henry VII. . . . nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed “modern history.”" [1913 Webster]
The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

commencement, n. formal 1 a beginning.
2 esp. US a ceremony of degree conferment.

Etymology

ME f. OF (as COMMENCE)

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THESAURUS

commencement

A, alpha, baccalaureate service, beginning, birth, blast-off, celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, conception, convocation, creation, cutting edge, dawn, dawning, derivation, edge, empty formality, establishment, exercise, exercises, flying start, formal, formality, foundation, fresh start, function, genesis, graduation, graduation exercises, grass roots, head, inaugural, inauguration, inception, initiation, institution, jump-off, kick-off, leading edge, liturgy, mummery, new departure, observance, office, oncoming, onset, opening, origin, original, origination, outbreak, outset, outstart, performance, provenience, radical, radix, religious ceremony, rise, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, ritual, root, running start, send-off, service, setting in motion, setting-up, solemnity, solemnization, source, square one, start, start-off, starting point, stem, stock, take-off, taproot

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ROGET THESAURUS

commencement

Beginning

N beginning, commencement, opening, outset, incipience, inception, inchoation, introduction, alpha, initial, inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation, 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, source, rise, bud, germ, egg, rudiment, genesis, primogenesis, birth, nativity, cradle, infancy, start, inception, creation, starting point, dawn, evolution, title-page, head, heading, van, caption, fatihah, entrance, entry, inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon, door, gate, gateway, postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule, propylaeum, skirts, border, first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight, rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABC, beginning, initial, initiatory, initiative, inceptive, introductory, incipient, proemial, inaugural, inchoate, inchoative, embryonic, rudimental, primogenial, primeval, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, natal, nascent, first, foremost, leading, maiden, begun, just begun, at the beginning, in the beginning first, in the first place, imprimis, first and foremost, in limine, in the bud, in embryo, in its infancy, from the beginning, from its birth, ab initio, ab ovo, ab incunabilis, ab origine, let's get going!, let's get this show on the road!, up and at 'em!, aller Anfang ist schwer, dimidium facti qui coepit habet, omnium rerum principia parva sunt.

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