commence

/kə-ˈmen(t)s/

Middle English comencen, from Anglo-French comencer, from Vulgar Latin *cominitiare, from Latin com- + Late Latin initiare to begin, from Latin, to initiate

verb

  1. to enter upon : begin

  2. to have or make a beginning : start

  3. to take a degree at a university

commence proceedings

begin commence start initiate inaugurate usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general. start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.