Definitions for Initial
ɪˈnɪʃ əlini·tial

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.6 / 9 votes

1. initialadjective

   the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)

   "he refused to put the initials FRS after his name"

2. initialverb

   occurring at the beginning

   "took the initial step toward reconciliation"

3. initialverb

   mark with one's initials

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. initialnoun

   The first letter of a word or a name.

2. initialnoun

   In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit

   You can get your initials printed at the top.

3. initialnoun

   A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.

4. initialnoun

   onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.

5. initialverb

   To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

   Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.

6. initialadjective

   Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin

7. initialadjective

   Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Initialadjective

   Etymology: initial, French; initialis, from initium, Lat.

   1. Placed at the beginning.

   In the editions, which had no more than the initial letters, he was made by Keys to hurt the inoffensive. Alexander Pope.

   2. Incipient; not complete.

   Moderate labour of the body conduces to the preservation of health, and cures many initial diseases; but the toil of the mind destroys health, and generates maladies. Gideon Harvey.

   The schools have used a middle term to express this affection, and have called it the initial fear of God. John Rogers.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Initial

   In a written or published work, an initial or drop cap is a letter at the beginning of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph that is larger than the rest of the text. The word is derived from the Latin initialis, which means standing at the beginning. An initial is often several lines in height and in older books or manuscripts, sometimes ornately decorated. In illuminated manuscripts, initials with images inside them, such as those illustrated here, are known as historiated initials. They were an invention of the Insular art of the British Isles in the eighth century. Initials containing, typically, plant-form spirals with small figures of animals or humans that do not represent a specific person or scene are known as "inhabited" initials. Certain important initials, such as the Beatus initial or "B" of Beatus vir... at the opening of Psalm 1 at the start of a vulgate Latin psalter These specific initials, in an illuminated manuscript, also were called initiums.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. initial

   Initial, as an adjective, refers to something that occurs at the beginning or start of a process, event, or situation. It can also describe a preliminary or introductory stage or step. As a noun, it denotes the first letter of a person's name or a word.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Initialadjective

   of or pertaining to the beginning; marking the commencement; incipient; commencing; as, the initial symptoms of a disease

2. Initialadjective

   placed at the beginning; standing at the head, as of a list or series; as, the initial letters of a name

3. Initialnoun

   the first letter of a word or a name

4. Initialverb

   to put an initial to; to mark with an initial of initials

5. Etymology: [L. initialis, from initium a going in, entrance, beginning, fr. inire to go into, to enter, begin; pref. in- in + ire to go: cf. F. initial. See Issue, and cf. Commence.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Initial

   In a written or published work, an initial is a letter at the beginning of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph that is larger than the rest of the text. The word is derived from the Latin initialis, which means standing at the beginning. An initial often is several lines in height and in older books or manuscripts, sometimes ornately decorated. In illuminated manuscripts, initials with images inside them, such as those illustrated here, are known as historiated initials. They were an invention of the Insular art of the British Isles in the eighth century. Initials containing, typically, plant-form spirals with small figures of animals or humans that do not represent a specific person or scene are known as "inhabited" initials. Certain important initials, such as the B of Beatus vir ... at the opening of Psalm 1 at the start of a vulgate Latin psalter, could occupy a whole page of a manuscript. These specific initials, in an illuminated manuscript, also were called Initiums.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 3 votes

1. Initial

   in-ish′al, adj. commencing: placed at the beginning.—n. the letter beginning a word, esp. a name.—v.t. to put the initials of one's name to:—pr.p. init′ialing (-alling); pa.p. init′ialed (-alled).—v.t. Init′iāte, to make a beginning: to instruct in principles: to acquaint with: to introduce into a new state or society.—v.i. to perform the first act or rite.—n. one who is initiated.—adj. fresh: unpractised.—n. Initiā′tion, act or process of initiating: act of admitting to any society, by instructing in its rules and ceremonies.—adj. Init′iātive, serving to initiate: introductory.—n. an introductory step: the power or right of commencing.—adj. Init′iātory, tending to initiate: introductory.—n. introductory rite. [L. initialis—initium, a beginning, inīre, inītum—in, into, īre, ītum, to go.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. initial

   A number of letters to express a name.

   The employees did initial their change on the quality assurance procedure.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 15, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Sign

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Initial' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1626

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Initial' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3390

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Initial' in Adjectives Frequency: #207

How to pronounce Initial?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Initial in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Initial in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Initial in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of Initial in a Sentence

1. Michael Greshko:

   When that went viral, my initial read was that The Rock probably had a replica skull. That said, The Rock is as plausible a buyer for the Stan fossil as any. He’s got the wealth to be able to make that purchase, at least it seems to from the outside looking in, and there’s a little bit of a track record from Hollywood celebrities expressing interest in fossil auctions. It’s the sort of thing where I was skeptical he had it but there was a possibility.

2. Air Force Lt. Col. Hodge:

   While we are still investigating the incident, initial reports from the U.S. aircrew characterized the intercept as unprofessional. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels.

3. People Editor-in-Chief Dan Wakeford:

   We're considering everyone to begin with, we send calls out to consumers and focus groups, working out who people find sexy. There's a lot of people on that initial research.

4. Sven Spichiger:

   We did get an initial direction of the flight, we were able to meet with several of the property owners and get a few more eyewitness accounts of seeing hornets earlier the week before or earlier in the summer, and so we are starting to narrow down exactly where the hornets' nest is.

5. Greg Ulmer:

   Navy F-35s congratulate the Department of The US Navy on achieving Initial Operational Capability with its fleet of F-35Cs, this milestone is the result of unwavering dedication from Navy F-35s joint government and industry team focused on delivering the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet in the world to the men and women of the The US Navy.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Initial
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Initial
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Initial
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Initial
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Initial
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Initial