different between commencement vs incipience

English

Etymology

From French commencement; analyzable as commence +? -ment.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??m?nsm?nt/
• Hyphenation: com?mence?ment

Noun

commencement (countable and uncountable, plural commencements)

1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing

   The time of Henry VII nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed modern history.

   Synonyms: rise, origin, beginning, start, dawn
2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.
3. A graduation ceremony, from a school, college or university.

Coordinate terms

• (graduation ceremony): convocation

Related terms

• commence

Translations

References

• commencement in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Etymology

Old French comencement, corresponding to commencer +? -ment

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?.m??s.m??/

Noun

commencement m (plural commencements)

1. beginning, start

Further reading

• “commencement” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Middle French

Etymology

Old French comencement, corresponding to commencer +? -ment

Noun

commencement m (plural commencemens)

1. beginning, start

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin incipientia.

Noun

incipience (countable and uncountable, plural incipiences)

1. A beginning, or first stage.

Related terms

• incipient

References

• OED 2nd edition 1989

Translations