Commence /(kŏm*mĕns")/

Com·mence

Commence

v. i.

imp. & p. p. Commenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing

  1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
    Here the anthem doth commence.
    His heaven commences ere the world be past.
  2. To begin to be, or to act as. [Archaic]
    We commence judges ourselves.
  3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.]
    I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age.

Commence

v. t.
  1. To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.
    Many a wooer doth commence his suit.