initial

Etymology

From Middle French initial or directly from its Latin etymon initiālis (“of the beginning, incipient, initial”), from initium (“a going in, entrance, beginning”), from inire (“to go in, enter upon, begin”), from in (“in”) + ire (“to go”).

adj

1. Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
   Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods.
   The initial stages of a syndrome may differ vastly from the final symptoms.
   Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess
   While the first part to Manchester is level after the initial climb out of Liverpool, the section over the Pennines between Manchester and Leeds is very difficult, with steep gradients as well as many slowings over junctions and curves. January 13 2021, David Clough, “Trans-Pennine transport transformers”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 58
2. Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
   The initial letter of names is usually printed with a capital letter.

noun

1. The first letter of a word or a name.
2. In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit.
   You can get your initials printed at the top.
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.

verb

1. (transitive) To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
   Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.