BEGIN', verb intransitive preterit tense began; participle passive begun. [Latin genero, gigno; Heb.to make ready, to adapt, prepare, establish.]

1. To have an original or first existence; to take rise; to commence.

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began. Luke 1:1.

Judgment must begin at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17.

From Nimrod first the savage race began.

And tears began to flow.

2. To do the first act; to enter upon something new; to take the first step; as, begin my muse.

BEGIN every day to repent.

When I begin I will also make an end. 1 Samuel 3:12.

BEGIN'verb intransitive To do the first act of any thing; to enter on; to commence.

Ye nymphs of Solyma, begin the song.

And this they begin to do. Genesis 11:6.

2. To trace from any thing, as the first ground; to lay the foundation.

The apostle begins our knowledge in the creatures, which leads us to the knowledge of God.

To begin with, to enter upon first; to use or employ first; as, to begin with the Latin Grammar; to begin business with a small capital.