Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM-MENCE', v.i. [commens'; Fr. commencer; Port. começar; Sp. comenzar; It. cominciare; Arm. coumançz, Perhaps com and initio.]

1. To begin; to take rise or origin; to have first existence; as, a state of glory to commence after this life; this empire commenced at a late period.
2. To begin to be, as in a change of character. Let not learning too commence its foe. – Pope.
3. To take a degree, or the first degree in a university or college. – Bailey.