Meanings
-
1
noun
The first part of something.
The author describes the main character's youth at the beginning of the story.
-
2
noun
The act or time of starting something.
I was responsible for the beginning of the negotiations.
-
3
noun
The point or cause from which something originates.
What was the beginning of the dispute?
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Opposites
Word family
Common collocations
Etymology
From Middle English begynnyng, bygynnynge, From Old English *beginnende (attested only as Old English onginnende), from Proto-Germanic *biginnandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *biginnaną (“to begin”), equivalent to begin + -ing.
begynnyng
Middle English
*beginnende
Old English
*biginnandz
Proto-Germanic
*biginnaną
Proto-Germanic
View etymology graph ->