Initial

Quick meaning: Initial is an adjective meaning Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.

Meaning

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

More Meanings

1. Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
2. The first letter of a word or a name, especially of a person's full name (their initials).
3. (typography, calligraphy) A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
4. (phonology) onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
5. (transitive) To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

Example Sentences

The initial letter of names is usually printed with a capital letter.

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

The initial stages of a syndrome may differ vastly from the final symptoms.

Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods.

Word Forms

• initials
• initialing
• initialling
• initialed
• initialled

Synonyms for initial

Depending on context, synonyms include incipient, inceptive, opening, beginning, commencing, earliest.

Antonyms for initial

Common opposites include final, eternal.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include first, primary, original, originally, elementary, main.

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