begin

begin
begin (v.) O.E. beginnan "to begin, attempt, undertake," a rare word beside the more usual form onginnan (class III strong verb; past tense ongann, pp. ongunnen); from bi- (see BE- (Cf. be-)) + W.Gmc. *ginnan, of obscure meaning and found only in compounds, perhaps "to open, open up" (Cf. O.H.G. in-ginnan "to cut open, open up," also "begin, undertake"), with sense evolution from "open" to "begin." Cognates elsewhere in Germanic include O.Fris. biginna "to begin," M.Du. beghinnen, O.H.G. beginnan, Ger. beginnen, O.Fris. bijenna "to begin," Goth. duginnan.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • BEGIN (M.) — BEGIN MENAHEM (1913 1992) Sixième Premier ministre de l’État d’Israël, Menahem Begin est né à Brest Litovsk le 16 août 1913. La ville que les juifs appelaient Brisk, aujourd’hui biélorusse, était alors polonaise. Durant toute sa vie, Begin est… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Begin — may refer to:in people: *Benny Begin (born 1943), Israeli politician *Floyd Lawrence Begin (1902 1977), American Roman Catholic bishop *Johanne Bégin (born 1971), Canadian water polo player *Joseph Damase Bégin (1900 1977), Canadian politician… …   Wikipedia

  • Bégin — Localisation de Bégin dans la MRC Le Fjord du Saguenay Administration Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • begin — begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate are comparable when they mean to set something going or in progress or to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. Begin, commence, and start are also used intransitively with the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • begin — [bē gin′, bigin′] vi. began, begun, beginning [ME biginnen < OE beginnan; akin to Ger beginnen, Goth duginnan] 1. to start doing, acting, going, etc.; get under way 2. to come into being; arise 3. to have a first part or element [the Bible… …   English World dictionary

  • Begin — bezeichnet: Menachem Begin israelischer Politiker Begin (Band), eine japanische Rockband Bégin, einen Familiennamen Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bégin — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Louis Nazaire Bégin (1840–1925), Erzbischof von Québec René Bégin (* 1912), kanadischer Politiker (Liberal Party) Steve Bégin (* 1977), kanadischer Eishockeyspieler Diese Seite ist …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Begin — Be*gin , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Began}, {Begun}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beginning}.] [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G. beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan. begynde); pref. be + an assumed ginnan. [root]31. See {Gin} to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • begin — ► VERB (beginning; past began; past part. begun) 1) perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity). 2) come into being. 3) have as its starting point. 4) (begin on/upon) set to work on. 5 …   English terms dictionary

  • Begin — Be*gin , v. t. 1. To enter on; to commence. [1913 Webster] Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of. [1913 Webster] The apostle begins our knowledge in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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