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. Scott Davis:

   The initial moves were very emotionally based and now we're getting back to fundamentals, there is still going to be volatility but we think you can pick your spots.

2. Taylor Alexander:

   My initial reaction was that I was kind of shocked, and laughed because of the irony of it, because President Trump had been railing against mail-in voting, but here President Trump party was, promoting it, and sending out an absentee ballot request form, i think it's ridiculous that the funding is being cut and processes are being changed in the post office. People's life saving medication are days late, bills aren't being paid on time, and all for what ? It's rigging the election.

3. Prince Mohammed:

   There may be some hardships in the initial years. We will endure and then the economy will take off.

4. Joseph Votel:

   Votel told Fox News’ Catherine Herridge. The intent is to create a situation where NATO can't continue to thrive. Votel said he did not have unique insights into Russian President Vladimir Putin but he believes Putin sees the expansion of NATO ...as a threat to him and I think what they (Moscow) are attempting to do is create these frozen conflicts and create situations that are very, very difficult to resolve along their border. That does, could pose an existential threat, Votel added. He also said Russia is using a hybrid approach to warfare where state and non-state actors are mixing military and non-military capabilities. The result is a coercive effect...using information operations, using manipulation of media , using social media. Since January, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia – three traditional U.S. allies - have completed significant nuclear energy deals with Russia. Asked if this is evidence of Putin's effort to further expand Russia’s reach, and the seeds of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, Votel replied it was proof of Moscow's push to challenge the U.S. and expand its influence. Votel said SOCOM is assisting those countries that want to resist Russian influence. We work with partners to help develop their capabilities, we help our embassies with some of their messaging activities that they are doing out there to make sure that truthful information is getting out to populations. We use our civil affairs capability to help connect governments to their populations and strengthen those relationships. In doing that, (we) reduce those vulnerabilities of populations who may be vulnerable to this type of pressure they get from outside countries . Asked about Al Qaeda, Votel said the terror group was diminished in east Africa, Syria and Yemen, but the lesson of the last decade is that the U.S. and its allies must maintain pressure or the groups will reinvent and reconstitute. The leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is believed to be in Pakistan, and has been noticeably silent on the June drone strike that killed the organization's number two , Naser al Wuhayishi, who also was the leader of the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen. To me it is a good sign it’s an indication that we have been very effective at isolating him so that is kind of my initial reaction.

5. Sam Calagione:

   There is an initial position of only wanting a minority investment, and within the first meeting they talk about a path to majority control or an IPO.

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