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The era in use in all Christian countries, which was intended to commence with the birth of Christ. The era as now established was first used by Dionysius Exiguus (died about 540), who placed the birth of Christ on the 25th of December in the year of Rome 754, which year he counted as 1 a. d. This date for Christ's bir…

In American colleges and universities, a day of the commencement season on which the senior class celebrates the completion of its course by exercises conducted by the members, such as the reading of the class histories and poem, the delivery of the class oration, the planting of the class ivy, etc.…

One who commences a legal process by a complaint.

body, whether living or dead. [Obs.] See Corpse, 1. By what craft in my corps, it cometh [commences] and where. Piers Plowman.

e ot over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance. -- To drop the curtain, to end the tale, or close the performance.

Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at the commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal one a jack.

l how to do. Sir P. Sidney. Determinate inflorescence (Bot.), that in which the flowering commences with the terminal bud of a stem, which puts a limit to its growth; -- also called centrifugal inflorescence. -- Determinate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of a limited number of solutions. -- Determinate quant…

an undertaking, or from the prosecution of anything; a determent; as, the revolution was commenced under every possible discouragement. "Discouragements from vice." Swift.

chairs slung on four men's shoulders, in which I put my papers and boxes, we next morning commenced the ascent. J. D. Hooker.

Having the food yolk, at the commencement of segmentation, in a peripheral position, and the cleavage process confined to the center of the egg; as, ectolecithal ova.

To pass within the limits of; to attain; to begin; to commence upon; as, to enter one's teens, a new era, a new dispensation.

The entering upon; the beginning, or that with which the beginning is made; the commencement; initiation; as, a difficult entrance into business. "Beware of entrance to a quarrel." Shak. St. Augustine, in the entrance of one of his discourses, makes a kind of apology. Hakewill.

f worth. It is higher than simple approbation, which is a decision of judgment. It is the commencement of affection." Gogan. No; dear as freedom is, and in my heart's Just estimation prized above all price. Cowper.

A large ornamental letter used, esp. by the early printers, at the commencement of the chapters and other divisions of a book. Brande & C.

a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I fenced A little ceased, but recommenced. Tennyson.

The third month of the French republican calendar. It commenced November 21, and ended December 20., See Vendémiaire.

leaving behind; by reason of; out of; by aid of; -- used whenever departure, setting out, commencement of action, being, state, occurrence, etc., or procedure, emanation, absence, separation, etc., are to be expressed. It is construed with, and indicates, the point of space or time at which the action, state, etc., are…

mcod; -- so called because it is abundant on the New England coast in autumn at about the commencement of frost. See Tomcod.

Began; commenced.

years). The intercalary month has the name of the one which precedes it. The year usually commences about April 11. The months are follows: