Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - begin

 biographical name Menachem 1913-1992 prime minister of Israel (1977-83) BEGIN  verb  (began; begun; ~ning)  Etymology: Middle English ~nen, from Old English ~nan; akin to Old High German biginnan to ~, Old English onginnan  Date: before 12th century  intransitive verb  1. to do the first part of an action ; go into the first part of a process ; start  2.  a. to come into existence ; arise  b. to have a starting point  3. to do or succeed in the least degree I can't ~ to tell you how pleased I am  transitive verb  1. to set about the activity of ; start  2.  a. to bring into being ; found  b. originate, invent Synonyms:  ~, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. ~, start, and commence are often interchangeable. ~ opposed to end, is the most general ~ a trip began dancing. start opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages the work started slowly. commence can be more formal or bookish than ~ or start commence firing commenced a conversation. initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue initiated diplomatic contacts. inaugurate suggests a ~ning of some formality or notion of significance the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine. usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate ushered in a period of economic decline.