COMMENCE

commence. Commence, v.t. to begin, assume, take

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Com‐mence″ (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing.] [[F. commencer, OF. comencier, fr. L. com- + initiare to begin. See Initiate.]] 1. 1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
Here the anthem doth commence. Shak. His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith. 2. 2. To begin to be, or to act as.
We commence judges ourselves. Coleridge. 3. 3. To take a degree at a university.
I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age. Fuller.