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Added 5 October 2026

initial

/ɪˈnɪʃ.əl/ adjective

In Latin: initiālis, principiālis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about initial at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods.
Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
The initial letter of names is usually printed with a capital letter.

noun

The first letter of a word or a name, especially of a person's full name (their initials).
A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.

verb

To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.

Origin

From Middle French initial or directly from its Latin etymon initiālis (“of the beginning, incipient, initial”), from initium (“a going in, entrance”), from inīre (“to go into, enter”), from in (“in”) + ire (“to go”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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