Past tense of commence, meaning to begin or start, especially in a formal context.
From Old French 'comencier,' from Latin 'com-' (together) plus 'initiare' (to begin). Later influenced by Latin 'initium' meaning beginning. The word entered English through Norman French.
While 'begin' and 'start' feel casual, 'commence' carries the weight of ceremony - it's the word for graduations, legal proceedings, and formal announcements, suggesting that some beginnings deserve more gravitas than others.
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