- initial (adj.)
- 1520s, "of or pertaining to a beginning," from Middle French initial or directly from Latin initialis "initial, incipient, of the beginning," from initium "a beginning, a commencement; an entrance, a going in," noun use of neuter past participle of inire "to go into, enter upon, begin," from in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + ire "to go" (see ion). Related: Initially.
- initial (v.)
- "to mark or sign with initials," 1837, from initial (n.). Related: Initialed; initialing.
- initial (n.)
- "initial letter of a name or surname," 1620s, from initial (adj.) in a specialized sense "standing at the beginning of a word, sentence, etc." (1620s).
