the time at which something begins; " They got an early start"

the act of starting something; " he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"

an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred

The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.

The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.

Beginning; origin; the occasion when degrees or diplomas are conferred at schools and colleges.

The beginning: the thing begun.

Beginning; time when students receive degrees.

A beginning; origin.

A celebration at the close of a college course, when degrees are conferred; also, the day so observed.

Beginning; rise; origin; first existence; a day on which academic degrees are publicly conferred; also the day when a student is made a bachelor at Cambridge.

They hated this work of cutting hills from the commencement to the end,- hated it, though it was to bring them wages and save them and theirs from actual famine and death. – Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope

But there was another point of view at which Mr. Prendergast had looked from the commencement, but at which he could not get Sir Thomas to look at all. – Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope

As this worthy was destined afterwards to be an intimate associate of Paul, our main reason for attending the hop at Bachelor Bill's is to note, as the importance of the event deserves, the epoch of the commencement of their acquaintance. – Paul Clifford, Volume 1. by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

It is a real commencement day mystery, isn't it? – Madge Morton's Victory by Amy D.V. Chalmers

I said at the commencement that I knew little of Ireland from personal contact with it. – The Life Story of an Old Rebel by John Denvir

Let it be remembered, however, as a matter of fact, that when in 1813 Rossini produced Tancredi, which marks the commencement of the reforms introduced by him into serious opera, he had enjoyed no opportunity of seeing any of Mozart's works on the stage. – The Great Musicians: Rossini and His School by Henry Sutherland Edwards

People enjoyed finding something to say when he passed them; their laughter still had the effect of making his knees begin to jerk with a nervous movement, like the quickly- suppressed commencement of a flight. – Pelle the Conqueror, Vol. 2 by Martin Anderson Nexo

Two of them were the wretches we introduced in the commencement of this chapter, the others had joined them during the day, in their course through the city, and with one of them also we have already as intimate an acquaintance as we could wish. – The Prime Minister by W.H.G. Kingston

Of the details of the Commencement of September 25, 1771, when he received his degree, we have but a brief account. – The Poems of Philip Freneau, Volume I (of III) by Philip Freneau

The sight was more unpleasant because they knew that they had seen only the commencement of that awful journey. – The Gold Trail by Harold Bindloss

" Not too late," was the reply, " but with his passionate struggle to advance, an earlier commencement would have been more favourable. – The Complete Historical Romances of Georg Ebers by Georg Ebers

From the very commencement the fighting was at close quarters, and the storm of shot and shell caused death on every hand. – The Great War in England in 1897 by William Le Queux

I have just been looking over it from the commencement. – Falkland, Complete by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

There is one instance where Korean children went on a strike just at Commencement time. – Flash-lights from the Seven Seas by William L. Stidger Commentator: Bishop Francis J. McConnell

All doubt as to whether this was Malcolm's friend, vanished within two minutes of his commencement. – The Marquis of Lossie by George MacDonald

For the commencement of their life was just. – The Orations of Lysias by Lysias

28, we observe the commencement of a separation taking place among the fibres of the aponeurosis. – Surgical Anatomy by Joseph Maclise

As soon as the first arrangements for the commencement of this hospital had been made, de Lescure and Henri went to Clisson. – La Vendée An Historical Romance by Anthony Trollope

At the commencement of the third race they were still of fine silver, and weighed about 23 or 24 grs. – The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896 by William Arthur Shaw

Yet one thing, at the commencement of the meal, and when the old servant and another had withdrawn from the room, had almost served to keep his suspicions alive. – In the Day of Adversity by John Bloundelle-Burton