commencement etymology

Etymology

The word "commencement" originates from the Latin verb "cominciare," which means "to begin" or "to start." It is derived from the prefix "com-" (meaning "together" or "with") and the root "incire" (meaning "to begin").

Meaning

Commencement has two primary meanings:

  1. A formal ceremony or event that marks the beginning of something, especially a new phase of life. This is commonly used to refer to graduation ceremonies, where graduates formally complete their studies and embark on the next chapter in their lives.

  2. The start or beginning of something. This can apply to any type of undertaking or project, such as the commencement of a new project, a new job, or a new chapter in one's personal life.

Origin

The term "commencement" has been used in academia since at least the 16th century to describe the ceremony marking the completion of a university degree. The first recorded use of the word in this context was in 1593 at the University of Cambridge, England.

Over time, the use of "commencement" expanded to include other ceremonies that signified the beginning of new endeavors. In the United States, the term is now commonly used to refer to high school and college graduation ceremonies.

commencement relate terms

  • commence

    Etymology Latin com with together incipere to begin Meaning To start o

  • Abitur

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  • adit

    Etymology Sanskrit अद त aditi Proto Indo European h₂eti Meaning

  • ambience

    Etymology The word ambience comes from the Latin word ambire meaning to surround o

  • ambient

    Etymology Latin ambiēns present participle of ambīre to go around Meaning Su

  • ambit

    Etymology The word ambit has Latin origins It derives from the Latin word ambire me

  • ambition

    Etymology and Meaning of Ambition The word ambition comes from the Latin word ambitio

  • ambitious

    Etymology Latin ambi meaning both around Latin īre meaning to go ous suff

  • andante

    Etymology Andante is derived from the Italian present participle of andare meaning t

  • anion

    Etymology From Ancient Greek anion ἀνιόν meaning going up Meaning A

  • cation

    Etymology Derived from Late Latin cation meaning going down a word used by mediev

  • circuit

    Etymology The word circuit is derived from Latin circuitus which means a going aro

  • commence

    Etymology Latin com with together incipere to begin Meaning To start o

  • commencement

    Etymology The word commencement originates from the Latin verb cominciare which mean

  • concomitant

    Etymology From Late Latin concomitans present participle of concomitari to accompany

  • constable

    Etymology The word constable comes from the Old French word conestable which itself

  • count

    Etymology The word count originates from the Old French word conte which itself deri

  • county

    Etymology The word county is derived from the Old French word cunté which in turn i

  • dysprosium

    Etymology The element dysprosium is named after the Greek word dysprositos which means

  • errant

    Etymology Errant originates from the Middle English term errand which itself derive

  • exit

    Etymology The word exit comes from the Latin word exitus meaning a way out departu

  • initial

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words etymon meaning true meanin

  • initiate

    Etymology Originates from the Greek word etymologia which is composed of etymon tr

  • initiation

    Etymology Latin initium beginning Meaning The act or process of initiating so

  • introit

    Etymology The word introit is derived from the Latin word introitus which means ent

  • issue

    Etymology The word issue originates from the Old French word issu which is the past

  • itinerant

    Etymology The word itinerant originates from the Latin word iter meaning a journey o

  • itinerary

    Etymology Medieval Latin itinerarium Latin iter journey arium place Mean

  • janitor

    Etymology The word janitor comes from the Latin word janitor which means gatekeeper

  • January

    Etymology From Late Latin Ianuarius named after Janus the Roman god of doorways and b

  • Janus

    Etymology The name Janus is derived from the Proto Italic Ianus which is related to t

  • Jena

    Etymology Jena is derived from the Old Sorbian a West Slavic language word žunja or

  • Mahayana

    Etymology The term Mahayana is derived from the Sanskrit words maha meaning great o

  • obituary

    Etymology The word obituary comes from the Latin word obitus which means death M

  • perish

    Etymology Old French perir Latin perire from per meaning completely ire mean

  • praetor

    Praetor Etymology Meaning and Origin Etymology The word praetor originates from the

  • Praetorian

    Etymology The word praetorian originates from the Latin term praetorius which means

  • preterite

    Etymology The word preterite derives from the Latin praeteritus meaning past or gon

  • sedition

    Etymology Latin seditionem Root words se apart ire to go Meaning In

  • sudden

    Etymology Sudden comes from the Latin word subitaneus meaning sudden unexpected ha

  • trance

    Etymology The word trance comes from the Old French word trans to cross and the La

  • transient

    Etymology The word transient is derived from the Latin word transire which means to

  • transit

    Etymology Transit derives from the Latin word transire meaning to cross over or to

  • transitive

    Etymology Transitive comes from the Latin word transire which means to pass through

  • viscount

    Etymology and Meaning The word viscount is derived from the Late Latin vicecomes wh

  • first

    Etymology the study of the origin and development of words and their meanings Meaning

  • start

    Etymology The word start has multiple etymologies depending on its usage Meaning

  • graduation

    Etymology The word graduation comes from the Latin word gradatus which means a ste

  • prevaricator

    Etymology Latin praevari to distort pervert prae before varus bent crooked

  • primordial

    Etymology Primordial is derived from the Latin word primordium which means beginni

  • origin

    Etymology Latin origo beginning source Meaning The place of origin birth m

  • aborigine

    Etymology From Latin aborigines plural meaning original inhabitants Ultimately

  • institution

    Etymology Latin institutio Meaning establishment or foundation Derived from the

  • baccalaureate

    Etymology and Meaning The word baccalaureate originates from the Medieval Latin word b

  • inauguration

    Etymology Inauguration derives from the Latin word inaugurare meaning to consecrate or