Definition of commence

< commemoratory

commencement >

com·mence    (k-mns) KEY 

VERB:
com·menced, com·menc·ing, com·menc·es
VERB:
tr.

To begin; start.

VERB:
intr.

To enter upon or have a beginning; start. See Synonyms at begin.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English commencen, from Old French comencier, from Vulgar Latin *cominitire : Latin com-, intensive pref. ; see com- + Late Latin initire, to begin (from Latin initium, beginning; see ei- in Indo-European roots)

OTHER FORMS:
com·mencer(Noun)