#66.  Beginning.—­ N. beginning, commencement, opening, outset,
incipience, inception, inchoation[obs3]; 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[obs3], 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[obs3].
     entrance, entry; inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal,
portico, propylon[obs3], door; gate, gateway; postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule; propylaeum[obs3]; skirts, border &c. (edge) 231.
     first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight.
     rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABCE. 
     V. begin, start, commence; conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its
rise, enter upon, enter; set out &c. (depart) 293; embark in; incept[obs3].
     [transitive] initiate, launch, inaugurate.
     [intransitive] 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[obs3], set abroach[obs3], set the ball in motion; apply the match to a train; broach; open up, open the door to.
     [intransitive] 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[obs3], inaugural; inchoate, inchoative[obs3]; embryonic, rudimental; primogenial[obs3]; 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 [Ger]; dimidium facti qui coepit habet [Lat][Cicero]; omnium rerum principia parva sunt [Lat][Cicero].