ɪˈnɪʃəl adj., n., & v. --adj.
of, existing, or occurring at
the beginning (initial
stage; initial expenses). --n. 1 = initial
letter. 2 (usu. in pl.) the
first letter or letters of the words of a (esp. a person's)
name or names. --v.tr. (initialled, initialling; US initialed, initialing) mark or
sign with one's initials. øinitial letter (or consonant) a letter or
consonant at the beginning of a
word. initial
teaching alphabet a 44-letter
phonetic alphabet used to
help those beginning to
read and write English. øøinitially adv. [L initialis f. initium beginning f. inire initgo in]