English word beginning comes from Old English (ca. 450-1100) onginnan (To begin. To undertake, attempt.), Dutch ontginnen (To develop.), Proto-Germanic *ginnaną, Proto-Germanic *bi- (By, at; a general locative prefix.), Old Saxon andginnan (To begin.), Proto-Germanic *ginnaną
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| onginnan | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | To begin. To undertake, attempt. |
| ontginnen | Dutch (nl) | To develop. |
| *ginnaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *bi- | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | By, at; a general locative prefix. |
| andginnan | Old Saxon (osx) | To begin. |
| *ginnaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *biginnaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To begin. |
| beginnan | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | (rare) to begin. |
| beginnen | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| begin | English (en) | (ambitransitive) To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.. (intransitive) To be in the first stage of some situation. (intransitive) To come into existence. (nonstandard) Beginning; start. |
| beginning | English (en) | (informal) Of or relating to the first portion of some extended thing. (uncountable) The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.. That which begins or originates something; the first cause. That which is begun; a rudiment or element.. [...] |
