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initial

in·i·tial [ i nísh'l ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. coming at start: coming first, or present at the beginning of an event or process
My initial feeling was one of shock.

2. coming first in word: relating to or used as the first letter or letters of a word



noun  (plural in·i·tials)
Definition:
 
1. first letter of name: the first letter of the name of a person, place, or organization

2. printing large ornate first letter: the large and often highly decorative first letter of a verse, paragraph, or page, especially as seen in illuminated manuscripts

3. botany plant-tissue cell: a cell in the growing point meristem of a plant that gives rise to cells that will develop into different plant tissues



plural noun in·i·tials 
Definition:
 
first letters of somebody's names: the first letter of each of the names of a person, place, or organization, used as an abbreviation or means of identification



transitive verb  (past and past participle in·i·tialed, present participle in·i·tial·ing, 3rd person present singular in·i·tials)
Definition:
 
mark something with initials: to sign or mark a document with initials, especially in order to show approval or give authorization

[Early 16th century. < Latin initialis< initium "beginning"]

in·i·tial·er noun
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