Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Commencement"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Commencement \Com*mence"ment\, n. [F. commencement.]
1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of
commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.
The time of Henry VII. . . . nearly coincides with
the commencement of what is termed ``modern
history.'' --Hallam.
2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and
universities upon students and others.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
commencement
n 1: the time at which something begins; "They got an early
start" [syn: {beginning}, {first}, {outset}, {start}, {kickoff},
{starting time}, {offset}] [ant: {middle}, {end}]
2: an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred [syn: {commencement
exercise}, {commencement ceremony}, {graduation}, {graduation
exercise}]
3: the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the
beginning of negotiations" [syn: {beginning}, {start}]
[ant: {finish}]
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