i|ni´tial|ly

i|ni|tial «ih NIHSH uhl», adjective, noun, verb, -tialed, -tial|ing or (especially British) -tialled, -tial|ling.

–adj.

1. occurring at the beginning; first; earliest: »

the initial letter of a word. His initial effort at skating was a failure, but he succeeded the second time that he tried.

SYNONYM(S): incipient, initiatory.

2. Phonetics. occurring at the beginning of an utterance or word: »

an initial vowel.

–n.

1. the first letter of a word, especially the first letter of a person's name or surname: »

The initials U.S. stand for United States. When he bought the new suitcase, he had his initials printed on it in gold lettering.

2. an extra large letter, often decorated, at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book or illuminated manuscript.

3. Phonetics. an initial speech sound or cluster.

–v.t.

1. to mark or sign with initials; put one's initials upon: »

John Allen Smith initialed the note J. A. S.

2. to put one's initials on (a treaty) as a step before signing, so as to show the negotiators' satisfaction pending the consent of the signatory governments: »

... to initial a treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere (Manchester Guardian Weekly).

╂[< Latin initiālis < initium a beginning < inīre begin < in- in + īre go]

–i|ni´tial|ly, adverb.